Experimental observation of the spin Hall effect using electronic nonlocal detection

Abstract

This chapter shows how the spin Hall effect (SHE) has been described as a source of spin-polarized electrons for electronic applications without the need for ferromagnets or optical injection. Because spin accumulation does not produce an obvious measurable electrical signal, electronic detection of the SHE proved to be elusive and was preceded by optical demonstrations. Several experimental schemes for the electronic detection of the SHE had been originally proposed, including the use of ferromagnetic electrodes to determine the spin accumulation at the edges of the sample. However, the difficulty of sample fabrication and the presence of spin-related phenomena such as anisotropic magnetoresistance or the anomalous Hall effect in the ferromagnetic electrodes could mask or even mimic the SHE signal in the sample layouts.