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Generation of spin currents by surface plasmon resonance
K Uchida1, H Adachi2, D Kikuchi3
11] Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan [2] PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
Nature Communications
|January 9, 2015
Summary
Researchers generated spin currents using surface plasmon resonance in gold nanoparticles. This novel plasmonic spin pumping technique integrates plasmonics with spintronics, paving the way for new electronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Surface plasmons enable light manipulation at the nanoscale, bridging photonics and electronics.
- Spintronics is an emerging field utilizing electron spin currents for device operation.
- Plasmonics and spintronics have historically developed as independent research areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the generation of spin currents via surface plasmon resonance.
- To explore the integration of plasmonic phenomena with spin-current physics.
- To establish a foundation for the new field of plasmonic spintronics.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing gold nanoparticles embedded within platinum/bismuth iron garnet bilayer films.
- Inducing surface plasmon resonance in gold nanoparticles.
- Analyzing spin current generation across the platinum/bismuth iron garnet interface.
Main Results:
- Surface plasmon resonance in gold nanoparticles successfully generated spin currents.
- The observed spin current generation was attributed to nonequilibrium magnons excited by plasmon-induced fields, not thermal effects.
- Demonstrated the excitation of spin currents by surface plasmon resonance.
Conclusions:
- Surface plasmon resonance can effectively generate spin currents.
- This work establishes a link between plasmonics and spintronics through a phenomenon termed 'plasmonic spin pumping'.
- The findings open new avenues for developing advanced spintronic devices by leveraging plasmonic properties.
