Generation and measurement of nonequilibrium spin currents in two-terminal systems

Abstract

Generation and measurement of nonequilibrium spin current in two probe phase coherent conductors are discussed. It is argued and shown that spin current can be generated in a two-terminal nonmagnetic system by application of electrical voltage. These spin currents can be measured via conductance in two probe configuration when the detector probe is ferromagnetic. It is shown that for a two-terminal system with one ferromagnetic probe, the conductance depends on the absolute direction of magnetization and is related to spin currents. Thus, this allows one to measure spin currents via conductance.