Injection of orbital angular momentum into transition metals from first-principles
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arXiv
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| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Preprint |
| Publicado: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866913146018463744 |
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| author | Rang, Max Kelly, Paul J. |
| author_facet | Rang, Max Kelly, Paul J. |
| contents | We use quantum mechanical scattering calculations implemented in a basis of tight-binding muffin-tin orbitals to calculate nonequilibrium spin and orbital currents in transition metals with a view to understanding the length scale on which they decay. In the case of spin currents, the relaxation length, called the spin-flip diffusion length, is reasonably well understood. We apply our experience with spin currents to study orbitally-polarized currents and find that they behave qualitatively differently. Upon injection from a lead, orbital currents decay within a few atomic layers contradicting the current interpretation of experimental results which appear to show exponential decay on the length scale of the spin-flip diffusion length and longer. When spin-orbit coupling is included, the injected orbital current is partially converted into a spin current within a few atomic layers. This insight provides a new perspective on the physics of the orbital Hall effect. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_02548 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Injection of orbital angular momentum into transition metals from first-principles Rang, Max Kelly, Paul J. Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics We use quantum mechanical scattering calculations implemented in a basis of tight-binding muffin-tin orbitals to calculate nonequilibrium spin and orbital currents in transition metals with a view to understanding the length scale on which they decay. In the case of spin currents, the relaxation length, called the spin-flip diffusion length, is reasonably well understood. We apply our experience with spin currents to study orbitally-polarized currents and find that they behave qualitatively differently. Upon injection from a lead, orbital currents decay within a few atomic layers contradicting the current interpretation of experimental results which appear to show exponential decay on the length scale of the spin-flip diffusion length and longer. When spin-orbit coupling is included, the injected orbital current is partially converted into a spin current within a few atomic layers. This insight provides a new perspective on the physics of the orbital Hall effect. |
| title | Injection of orbital angular momentum into transition metals from first-principles |
| topic | Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.02548 |