Optically generated spin currents in platinum/magnetic insulator bilayer structures
Abstract
The generation and detection of pure spin current provides a pathway for solid-state devices to avoid Joule heating losses arising in electrical architectures. Despite the promise of loss-free, spin-based devices, integrated spin current technology into real-world applications has proven difficult. Here, we use a Pt/Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) bilayer device to detect light from 390 nm to 2200 nm using the spin Seebeck effect (SSE). We find that the nanometer-thick platinum layer is crucial for both spin current generation and detection. We use a phase-sensitive, field-modulation technique to determine the temperature gradient across the YIG, ∇T , created by optical illumination, I, to be ∇T / I = 0 .0975° C .m/W. From our measured values of ∇T and ∇V , we obtain the SSE coefficient of YIG to be Sspin = - ∇V / ∇T = - 1 . 1 nV/K; this value is consistent with reported literature values for other SSE materials. This work reveals the possibility of using spin current generation and detection for broadband light optoelectronics.
JRM, SK and WDR acknowledge support from NASA through Grant No. WY-80NSS17M0049 and through the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources.- Publication:
-
APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019APS..MARK39007M