Circuit theory with spin-non-conserving interfaces and first-principles calculations of spin memory loss at magnetic and non-magnetic interfaces

Spin transport across metallic interfaces is a central process in spintronic device concepts, such as giant magnetoresistance, spin-transfer torque, and spin pumping. Spin-orbit coupling plays an important role in many such devices. In particular, spin current is partially depolarized at an interface due to spin-orbit coupling. This effect has been measured for multiple interfaces. Such systems can be studied using the magnetoelectronic circuit theory equipped with appropriate boundary conditions, and first-principles calculations of the spin-memory loss parameter δ have been reported for the Cu/Pd interface.

Here we apply the generalized magnetoelectronic circuit theory with spin loss to magnetic multilayers and report the results of first-principles calculations of the relevant scattering probabilities for a multitude of N/N, F/N, and F/F interfaces, where F or N stand for a ferromagnetic or a normal metal. The calculated area-resistance products and spin-memory loss parameters d for interfaces without palladium are in good agreement with experimental measurements, but they are both overestimated for all interfaces involving palladium.