Abstract
The manner in which spin-polarized electrons interact with a magnetized thin film is currently described by a semi-classical approach. This in turn provides our present understanding of the spin transfer, or spin torque phenomenon. However, spin is an intrinsically quantum-mechanical quantity. Here, we make the first strides towards a fully quantum-mechanical description of spin transfer through spin currents interacting with a Heisenberg-coupled spin chain. Because of quantum entanglement, this requires a formalism based on the density matrix approach. Our description illustrates how individual spins in the chain time-evolve as a result of spin transfer.
Recommended Citation
C. Y. Kim et al., "Quantum Mechanics of Spin Transfer in Coupled Electron-Spin Chains," EPL, vol. 79, no. 6, pp. 67004-p1 - 67004-p5, IOP Publishing Ltd., Sep 2007.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/79/67004
Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0295-5075
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd., All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Sep 2007
