MSCA ITN MagnEFi 860060
Published January 27, 2021 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Terahertz Spin‐to‐Charge Conversion by Interfacial Skew Scattering in Metallic Bilayers

Creators

  • 1. Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4–6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
  • 2. Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4–6, 14195 Berlin, Germany Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 2027/3, Prague, 12116 Czech Republic
  • 3. School of Physics, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL UK Institut für Physik, Johannes‐Gutenberg‐Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz, Germany
  • 4. Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4–6, 14195 Berlin, Germany Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Hönggerbergring 64, Zürich, 8093 Switzerland
  • 5. Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4–6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
  • 6. Institut für Physik, Johannes‐Gutenberg‐Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz, Germany
  • 7. Institut für Physik, Johannes‐Gutenberg‐Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz, Germany Singulus Technologies AG, 63796 Kahl am Main, Germany
  • 8. Institut für Physik, Martin‐Luther‐Universität Halle, Von‐Danckelmann‐Platz, 06120 Halle, Germany

Description

The efficient conversion of spin to charge transport and vice versa is of major relevance for the detection and generation of spin currents in spin‐based electronics. Interfaces of heterostructures are known to have a marked impact on this process. Here, terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy is used to study ultrafast spin‐to‐charge‐current conversion (S2C) in about 50 prototypical F|N bilayers consisting of a ferromagnetic layer F (e.g., Ni81Fe19, Co, or Fe) and a nonmagnetic layer N with strong (Pt) or weak (Cu and Al) spin‐orbit coupling. Varying the structure of the F/N interface leads to a drastic change in the amplitude and even inversion of the polarity of the THz charge current. Remarkably, when N is a material with small spin Hall angle, a dominant interface contribution to the ultrafast charge current is found. Its magnitude amounts to as much as about 20% of that found in the F|Pt reference sample. Symmetry arguments and first‐principles calculations strongly suggest that the interfacial S2C arises from skew scattering of spin‐polarized electrons at interface imperfections. The results highlight the potential of skew scattering for interfacial S2C and propose a promising route to enhanced S2C by tailored interfaces at all frequencies from DC to terahertz.

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