Date of Award

3-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Organizational Unit

College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy

First Advisor

Barry L. Zink

Second Advisor

Xin Fan

Third Advisor

Pavel Salev

Fourth Advisor

Michelle K. Knowles

Keywords

Spin hall effect, Spincaloritronics, Spintronics

Abstract

In this dissertation begin with an investigation of non-local spin transport in an amorphous germanium (a-Ge) sample via the inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE). In that study we show that commonly used techniques such as differential conductance and delta mode of a paired Keithley 6221/2182a for non-local resistance measurements can lead to false indicators of spin transport. Next, we turn out attention to a thickness dependent study in thermally-evaporated chromium (Cr) thin films on a bulk polycrystalline yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) substrate. This project analyzed the spin transport in the Cr films versus thickness via the longitudinal spin Seebeck effect (LSSE). This research revealed a complex thickness dependence of the spin-to-charge conversion and LSSE voltages for the evaporated Cr that may be a consequence of strain in Cr and finite size effects. We continue to examine LSSE in thermallyevaporated Cr, but now under a temperature dependent study. The results reveal an enhancement in the evaporated Cr below 200 K, where the Cr thin film transitions from a mixed SDW antiferromagnetic state described by the combination of a antiferromagnetic commensurate SDW (CSDW) and paramagnetic incommensurate SDW (ISDW) to a full antiferromagnetic state where both CSDW and ISDW are antiferromagnetic. This is absent in sputtered Cr thin films deposited on similar YIG substrates. Finally, we explore the spin-flopped coupled lanthanum strontium ferrite (LSFO) lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO) bilayer grown on a lanthanum strontium aluminate (LSAT) substrate. This research focuses on the possible control of magnetic moments using current pulses.

Copyright Date

3-2024

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Sam M. Bleser

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

183 pgs

File Size

16.3 MB

Discipline

Physics



Share

COinS