Spin transport in germanium at room temperature

Spin-dependent transport is investigated in a Ni/Ge/AlGaAs junction with an electrodeposited Ni contact. Spin-polarized electrons are excited by optical spin orientation and are subsequently used to measure the spin dependent conductance at the Ni/Ge Schottky interface. We demonstrate electron spin transport and electrical extraction from the Ge layer at room temperature. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3505337]