Generation and Detection of Spin Current in Semiconductors: Semiconductor Spintronics

The basic requirements necessary in developing semiconductor spintronic devices are the efficient generation and detection of spin current in semiconductors. Since in spintronic devices the information is carried by the electron spin, an electrical means of detecting spin current in semiconductors is desirable for fully exploring the possibility of utilizing spin degree of freedom and for possible device applications. By reviewing the potentials and the recent success and understanding of spintronics, we demonstrate a technique for the electrical detection of optically generated spin current in semiconductors. The results show that the effect resulting from the spin current depends strongly on the strength of the applied electric bias acted on the spin-polarized electrons. The results are presented and discussed.