Direct electrical detection of current-induced spin polarization due to spin-momentum locking in topological insulators

US10132880B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force · US

Inventors

• Connie H. Li · Alexandria, US
• Olaf M. J. van 't Erve · Falls Church, US
• Jeremy T. Robinson · Washington, US
• Ying Liu · Hsinchu, TW
• Lian Li · Shanghai, CN
• Berend T. Jonker · Waldorf, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 6, 2015
• Grant date: Nov 20, 2018
• Expiry date: Jun 6, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N50/85
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for directly electrically generating and detecting spin polarization in topological insulators comprising depositing a first and fourth contact on a layer of Bi2Se3 and applying a current between the contacts, which creates a net spin polarization due to spin-momentum locking. A second (comprising ferromagnet/tunnel barrier) and third contact are deposited for detecting the spin polarization. A device for directly electrically generating and detecting the current-generated spin polarization in topological insulators, comprising a first and fourth contact on a layer of Bi2Se3 and a second contact comprising a ferromagnet/oxide tunnel barrier contact as a detector, and a third contact comprising nonmagnetic metal as a reference contact, a current to the first and fourth contact to produce a net spin polarization, and the spin polarization manifesting as a voltage between the second (magnetic) and third (reference) contacts.