title: Extrinsic spin Hall effect from first principles.
abstract: We present an ab initio description of the spin Hall effect in metals. Our approach is based on density functional theory in the framework of a fully relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method and the solution of a linearized Boltzmann equation including the scattering-in term (vertex corrections). The skew scattering mechanism at substitutional impurities is considered. Spin-orbit coupling in the host as well as at the impurity atom and the influence of spin-flip processes are fully taken into account. A sign change of the spin Hall effect in Cu and Au hosts is obtained as a function of the impurity atom, and even light elements like Li can cause a strong effect. It is shown that the gigantic spin Hall effect in Au can be caused by skew scattering at C and N impurities which are typical contaminations in a vacuum chamber.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany. martin.gradhand@physik.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gradhand
authors.forename: Dmitry V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Fedorov
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mertig