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arXiv · 1308.3428

Spintronics and Pseudospintronics in Graphene and Topological Insulators

D. A. Pesin·A. H. MacDonald
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Abstract

The two-dimensional electron systems in graphene and in topological insulators are described by massless Dirac equations. Although the two systems have similar Hamiltonians, they are polar opposites in terms of spin-orbit coupling strength. We briefly review the status of efforts to achieve long spin relaxation times in graphene with its weak spin-orbit coupling, and to achieve large current-induced spin polarizations in topological-insulator surface states that have strong spin-orbit coupling. We also comment on differences between the magnetic responses and dilute-moment coupling properties of the two systems, and on the pseudospin analog of giant magnetoresistance in bilayer graphene.

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D. A. Pesin, A. H. MacDonald. 2013-08-15. Spintronics and Pseudospintronics in Graphene and Topological Insulators. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3305

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