Spin injection into a metal from a topological insulator

Modak, S and Sengupta, K and Sen, Diptiman (2012) Spin injection into a metal from a topological insulator. In: PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 86 (20).

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Abstract

We study a junction of a topological insulator with a thin two-dimensional nonmagnetic or partially polarized ferromagnetic metallic film deposited on a three-dimensional insulator. We show, by deriving generic boundary conditions applicable to electrons traversing the junction, that there is a finite spin-current injection into the film whose magnitude can be controlled by tuning a voltage V applied across the junction. For ferromagnetic films, the direction of the component of the spin current along the film magnetization can also be tuned by tuning the barrier potential V-0 at the junction. We point out the role of the chiral spin-momentum locking of the Dirac electrons behind this phenomenon and suggest experiments to test our theory.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	PHYSICAL REVIEW B
Publisher:	AMER PHYSICAL SOC
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to AMER PHYSICAL SOC, USA
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Centre for High Energy Physics
Date Deposited:	16 Dec 2012 10:01
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2012 10:01
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/45545

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