Spin Current Generation by Using Surfaces and Interfaces

Abstract

Spin Hall effects are commonly used as a means for interconversion between charge- and spin-currents. As an alternative mechanism for this interconversion, the Rashba-type spin splitting at the interface or the spin-momentum locking at the Dirac surface state of a topological insulator have recently been used for highly efficient spin to charge conversion. In this article, we review recent progress of the research on the above-mentioned topics and give future prospects.