(Invited) Spin Transport in Germanium

Abstract

I will review the work leading to the first demonstration of spin transport in germanium. This includes the development of Fe/MgO/Ge(001) junctions by molecular beam epitaxy, characterization of Schottky barriers at this junction, and the fabrication of germanium lateral spin valves consisting of a Ge spin transport channel and Fe/MgO electrodes. We employ the nonlocal spin transport geometry to isolate pure spin currents (without net charge currents) that flow from the spin injector to the spin detector. Most importantly, we are able to provide the unambiguous proof of spin transport by observing the Hanle spin precession in the nonlocal geometry. We compare the results with three-terminal Hanle measurements and discuss a new future direction for spintronics research using a two-dimensional form of germanium known as germanane.