Abstract
We show, both experimentally and theoretically, a novel route to obtain giant room temperature spin-Hall effect due to surface-assisted skew scattering. In the experiment, we report the spin-Hall effect in Pt-doped Au films with different thicknesses . The giant spin-Hall angle is obtained for at room temperature, while it is much smaller for the sample. Combined ab initio and quantum Monte Carlo calculations for the skew scattering due to a Pt impurity show on the Au (111) surface, while it is small in bulk Au. The quantum Monte Carlo results show that the spin-orbit interaction of the Pt impurity on the Au (111) surface is enhanced, because the Pt levels are lifted to the Fermi level due to the valence fluctuation. In addition, there are two spin-orbit interaction channels on the Au (111) surface, while only one in bulk Au.
- Received 5 August 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.216401
© 2010 The American Physical Society