Orbital Hall Spin Current Conversion With Minimal Heavy Metal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spin Hall Effect devices rely heavily on heavy metals for spin current generation, which is undesirable in some applications, necessitating a reduction in heavy metal dependence.
Innovation Solution
Generation of spin current through the conversion of out-of-plane orbital current arising from the Orbital Hall Effect in ordinary metals, utilizing thin layers of heavy metals to convert orbital current to spin current, thereby reducing heavy metal requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heavy metals are used to generate spin current via Spin Hall Effect, then spin current generation efficiency is improved, but heavy metal quantity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into two functional parts: an ordinary metal component that generates orbital current and a thin heavy metal layer that converts orbital current to spin current. This segmentation allows the heavy metal to be used only where necessary for conversion, reducing overall heavy metal quantity while maintaining spin current generation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Orbital current in the ordinary metal acts as an intermediary that mediates between charge current and spin current. The ordinary metal generates orbital current which then interacts with the thin heavy metal layer to produce spin current, reducing direct dependence on heavy metals for spin current generation.
2Quantity of substance
If ordinary metals are used instead of heavy metals, then heavy metal requirements are reduced, but spin current generation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces orbital current as an intermediary mechanism. Ordinary metals generate orbital current which then serves as the input for spin current generation in the heavy metal layer, enabling ordinary metals to participate actively in the spin current generation process without directly replacing heavy metals.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by utilizing orbital current (a different physical quantity) instead of relying solely on spin-orbit coupling in heavy metals. This parameter change allows ordinary metals to contribute to spin current generation through the Orbital Hall Effect followed by orbital-to-spin conversion.
3Quantity of substance
If thin layers of heavy metal are used for conversion, then heavy metal quantity is reduced, but conversion efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using sufficient heavy metal to guarantee conversion efficiency, the patent uses only a thin layer (partial action) and relies on the Orbital Hall Effect in ordinary metal to generate the necessary orbital current that feeds into the conversion process, achieving efficiency with reduced heavy metal quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ordinary metal component acts as an intermediary that amplifies or enhances the conversion process by generating strong orbital current through the Orbital Hall Effect, which then efficiently converts to spin current in the thin heavy metal layer, compensating for the reduced heavy metal quantity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Substantially reduces the need for heavy metals by using ordinary metals to generate orbital current, converting it to spin current with minimal heavy metal involvement, applicable in magnetoresistive sensors and magnetic tunnel junction data storage.
Implementation Method 1
Generation of spin current through the conversion of out-of-plane orbital current arising from the Orbital Hall Effect in ordinary metals
Implementation Method 2
Heavy metals exhibit strong spin-orbital coupling (SOC), whereas ordinary metals exhibit weak spin-orbital coupling
Data Source
AI summary
Devices for sensing and manipulating magnetic fields based on spin current interactions independent of the Spin Hall Effect (SHE) in heavy metal. Spin current is generated in ordinary metals by conversion of out-of-plane orbital current arising from the Orbital Hall Effect (OHE). The conversion from orbital current to spin current takes place in a thin layer of heavy metal (several atomic layers thick), thereby substantially reducing heavy metal requirements by replacing heavy metal with ordinary metal. Device applications include magnetoresistive sensors for detecting and measuring magnetic fields, and magnetic tunnel junction data storage units.