Detection of current-induced spins by ferromagnetic contacts

Abstract

Detection of current-induced spin accumulation via ferromagnetic contacts is discussed. Onsager's relations forbid that in a two-probe configuration, spins excited by currents in time-reversal symmetric systems can be detected by switching the magnetization of a ferromangetic detector contact. Nevertheless, current-induced spins can be transferred as a torque to a contact magnetization and can affect the charge currents in many-terminal configurations. We demonstrate the general concepts by solving the microscopic transport equations for the diffuse Rashba system with magnetic contacts.