SOCISS · Spin-Orbit Coupling at Interfaces from Spintronics to new Superconducting effects

Spin-Orbit Coupling at Interfaces from Spintronics to new Superconducting effects

The main objective of the SOCISS project was to gain a deep understanding of how the spin-orbit coupling that arises at the interface of two different materials influences the spin transport properties of these junctions. During the realization of the project the researcher has been able to understand the nature of this interaction through the following results - Description of the spin-to-charge and spin-to-spin conversion in metal-metal junctions in the presence of interfacial spin-orbit coupling. These results have been first calculated using a ballistic approach. Two unexpected results were found. First, a new spin-to-charge channel conversion due to the interaction between the incoming and the reflected by the interface wave functions. The second and more surprisingly was that interfacial spin-orbit coupling is responsible of spin-to-spin conversion. - Extension of the Zaitsev’s boundary conditions to the cases in which interfacial spin-orbit coupling is present. This work is almost finished and we expect to publish its results very soon. This approach allows us to explain all the different mechanisms of spin-to-charge and spin-to-spin conversions when interfacial spin-orbit coupling is present. It also allows us to explain how these effects depend on the thickness of the junction. Its extension to superconductivity will be hold in the next year. - Study of the influence of interfacial spin-orbit coupling in Anomalous Hall effect experiments. - Direct collaboration with experimental observations of the effect of interfacial spin-orbit coupling in the Anomalous Hall and Spin Hall effects in metal-oxide and ferromagnet-oxide junctions. This work has been done in collaboration with two different groups. One lead by Professor Félix Casanova at Nanogune in San Sebastián, and the one lead by Professor Otani in Tokio. This work is almost finished and we expect to publish its results very soon in three different papers. - Realization of spin transport DFT based simulations including interfacial spin-orbit coupling. Unfortunately, these type of calculations require a huge number of k-points in order to converge and more effort will be required in order to obtain last results. Preliminary results tend to agree with the theoretical calculations previously discussed. The researcher has also described of a new critical temperature to describe magnetic transition for magnetic molecules. This study was not first included in the project but the nice environment of the Nano-bio group allowed the researcher to discuss and collaborate with Dr. Joaquim Jornet-Somoza giving rise to this work. All the results showed above allow us to gain a huge understanding on the effect of interfacial spin-orbit in spin transport phenomena. We have developed a very powerful theoretical tool which will allows us to complete define all the spin transport effects due to this crucial interaction. The collaborations with the experimental groups in order to test this theory is a great evidence of the strength of these results. The complete understanding of interfacial spin-orbit may play a very important role in obtaining very efficient spin-to-charge convertes one of the most important challenges of the spintronics community.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union