CPM Seminar

Spin-orbit coupling in spintronics and photovoltaics

Paul Haney

NIST

Spin-orbit splitting occurs in material systems with broken inversion symmetry, and leads to a coupling of electron spin and momentum. This coupling naturally leads to applications in spintronics, a broad field in which the interplay of electron charge and spin is central. In this talk, I explore the implications of spin-orbit coupling in two different systems: the first systems are heavy metal - ferromagnet bilayers, where we use first-principles calculations to quantify the (DC) current-induced torques present on the ferromagnet. From the system's optical response, I show that spin-orbit coupling can lead to optical torques on the ferromagnet which can exceed the angular momentum flux of the light. The second system is the recently discovered hybrid perovskite photovoltaic, where I propose that spin-orbit coupling can be used to understand the role of grain boundaries in the operation of solar cell devices based on these materials.