Superimposed contributions to two-terminal and nonlocal spin signals in lateral spin-transport devices

Abstract

The spin voltages produced by spin accumulation and Hanle spin precession in a lateral spin-transport device with a silicon channel and ferromagnetic tunnel contacts (Fe/MgO) are probed for a wide range of magnetic fields. Signal analysis reveals that for the interpretation of the two-terminal magnetoresistance and the nonlocal spin signals, one needs to consider various superimposed contributions, namely, (i) spin signals arising from spin transport of mobile carriers through the Si channel from one ferromagnetic contact to the other, thus depending on the relative magnetization of the two contacts, (ii) spin signals also arising from the spin accumulation of mobile carriers in the Si channel but generated at each of the ferromagnetic contacts separately, and (iii) spin signals originating from spin accumulation of carriers that are confined at or near the Si/MgO interface of the magnetic tunnel contacts, with rather different spin precession characteristics. Perhaps surprisingly, in the nonlocal spin signal a clear broad Hanle signal from confined electrons is also observed, and argued to be mediated by heat flow from the injector to the nonlocal detector.