Room-temperature solid-state radiation detectors based on spintronics

Abstract

In this paper we are presenting a unique approach to solve the thermal background problem encountered in semiconductor nuclear detectors. Our approach addresses above challenge by making a shift from 'electronic detection mechanism' to 'spintronic detection mechanism'. The proposed methodology is based on the hypothesis that the electromagnetic field associated with the incident nuclear radiation will interact with the spin of the electrons (injected from a ferromagnetic electrode into a semiconductor channel) via the Rashba spin-orbit interaction mechanism. This interaction will result in a precession in the spin polarization of the electrons and as a result the current collected by another ferromagnetic electrode (which will be aligned either parallel or anti-parallel to the first electrode) will change. So, in contrast to traditional semiconductor detectors, where the radiation sensing mechanism depends on the generation and collection of charge carriers, in spintronic detectors, the radiation sensing mechanism will be based on the quantum mechanical precession of the spin of electrons.