Thermally excited spin current and giant magnetothermopower in metals with embedded ferromagnetic nanoclusters

Abstract

We show that a thermally excited spin current naturally appears in metals with embedded ferromagnetic nanoclusters. When such materials are subjected to a magnetic field, a spin current can be generated by a temperature gradient across the sample as a signature of electron-hole symmetry breaking in a metal due to the electron spin-flip scattering from polarized magnetic moments. Such a spin current can be observed via a giant magnetothermopower which tracks the polarization state of the magnetic subsystem and is proportional to the magnetoresistance. Our theory explains the recent experiment on Co clusters in copper by S. Serrano-Guisan [Nat. Mater.5, 730 (2006)]. © 2006 The American Physical Society.