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Optimization of lateral spin valves signals and thermal effects in spintronics
The control and manipulation of spin currents in materials is an emerging field from both technological and basic research point of view. In particular, lateral spin valves allow the detection of non-local spin diffusive currents and offer the miniaturization as a key feature for applications. On the other hand, the possible interaction between spin and heat currents is a recent and controversial question that has arisen in the last years promoting the appearance of different device geometries to elucidate it. In this presentation we demonstrate how the implementation of half-metallic electrodes in mesoscopic spin valves enhances the spin signal and we also present a unique device geometry that allows us to extract information about the electron-magnon interaction providing in this way crucial elements to understand the puzzling spin-thermal effects.