nLab spin Hall effect

Idea

In solid state physics the spin Hall effect refers to phenomena roughly analogous to the standard Hall effect, but with the role of electric charge played by spin-polarization of particles/excitations:

A material shows a spin Hall effect if a current of spinning particles/excitation through the material induces a separation of particles of different spin polarization. This may happen either due to spin-dependent Mott scattering? or due to intrinsic spin-orbit coupling (Dyakonov-Perel 71) playing the role of the external magnetic field in the standard Hall effect.

In particular, no external magnetic field is needed to induce a spin Hall effect; on the contrary, an a external magnetic field may suppress a spin Hall effect, due to the induced spin precession? (Dyakonov-Perel 71).

Related concepts

• Hall effect, quantum Hall effect

• quantum spin Hall effect

References

The original description of the effect via spin-orbit coupling:

• M. I. Dyakonov, V. I. Perel, Current-induced spin orientation of electrons in semiconductors, Physics Letters A Volume 35, Issue 6, 12 July 1971, Pages 459-460 (doi:10.1016/0375-9601(71)90196-4)

See also:

• Wikipedia, Spin Hall effect