Quantum simulations of spin-relaxation and transport in copper

A quantum equation of motion method is applied to simulate conduction electron spin-relaxation and transport in the presence of the spin-orbit interaction and disorder. A spin-relaxation time of 25ps is calculated for Cu with a realistic low temperature resistivity of 3.2 μΩ cm – corresponding to a spin-diffusion length of about 0.4 μm. Spin-relaxation in a finite nanocrystallite of Cu is also simulated and a short spin-relaxation time (0.47 ps) is calculated for a crystallite with 7% surface atoms. The spin-relaxation calculated for bulk Cu is in good agreement with experimental evidence, and the dramatic nanocrystallite effect observed has important implications for nano-spintronic devices. Copyright EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag 2007