Exchange-Driven Spin Relaxation in Ferromagnet-Oxide-Semiconductor Heterostructures

Yu-Sheng Ou; Yi-Hsin Chiu; N J Harmon; Patrick Odenthal; Matthew Sheffield; Michael Chilcote; R K Kawakami; M E Flatté; E Johnston-Halperin

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.107201

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Exchange-Driven Spin Relaxation in Ferromagnet-Oxide-Semiconductor Heterostructures

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Exchange-Driven Spin Relaxation in Ferromagnet-Oxide-Semiconductor Heterostructures

Yu-Sheng Ou, Yi-Hsin Chiu, N J Harmon, Patrick Odenthal, Matthew Sheffield, Michael Chilcote, R K Kawakami, M E Flatté and E Johnston-Halperin

Physical review letters, Vol.116(10), pp.107201-107201

03/11/2016

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.107201

PMID: 27015506

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Abstract

We demonstrate that electron spin relaxation in GaAs in the proximity of a Fe/MgO layer is dominated by interaction with an exchange-driven hyperfine field at temperatures below 60 K. Temperature-dependent spin-resolved optical pump-probe spectroscopy reveals a strong correlation of the electron spin relaxation with carrier freeze-out, in quantitative agreement with a theoretical interpretation that at low temperatures the free-carrier spin lifetime is dominated by inhomogeneity in the local hyperfine field due to carrier localization. As the regime of large nuclear inhomogeneity is accessible in these heterostructures for magnetic fields <3 kG, inferences from this result resolve a long-standing and contentious dispute concerning the origin of spin relaxation in GaAs at low temperature when a magnetic field is present. Further, this improved fundamental understanding clarifies the importance of future experiments probing the time-dependent exchange interaction at a ferromagnet-semiconductor interface and its consequences for spin dissipation and transport during spin pumping.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Exchange-Driven Spin Relaxation in Ferromagnet-Oxide-Semiconductor Heterostructures
Creators: Yu-Sheng Ou - The Ohio State University
Yi-Hsin Chiu - The Ohio State University
N J Harmon - University of Iowa
Patrick Odenthal - University of California, Riverside
Matthew Sheffield - The Ohio State University
Michael Chilcote - The Ohio State University
R K Kawakami - University of California, Riverside
M E Flatté - University of Iowa
E Johnston-Halperin - The Ohio State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Physical review letters, Vol.116(10), pp.107201-107201
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.107201
PMID: 27015506
NLM abbreviation: Phys Rev Lett
ISSN: 0031-9007
eISSN: 1079-7114
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000015, name: U.S. Department of Energy; DOI: 10.13039/100006132, name: Office of Science; DOI: 10.13039/100006151, name: Basic Energy Sciences, award: DE-FG02-03ER46054; DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: National Science Foundation, award: DMR-1420451
Language: English
Date published: 03/11/2016
Academic Unit: Electrical and Computer Engineering; Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984429018802771

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