Inverse spin Hall effect in Cr: Independence of antiferromagnetic ordering

Chromium is a 3d spin-density wave antiferromagnetic (AF) metal with a Neel temperature of 311 K. By using the thermal spin injection method, we have observed a large inverse spin Hall voltage in Cr. With a negligible magnetic proximity effect and a large spin Hall angle, Cr is an intrinsic pure spin current detector that is superior to many 5d metals. Even more strikingly, the temperature dependent thermal spin injection measurements show that the large spin Hall angle in Cr is independent of the AF ordering, and indicating that the inverse spin Hall effect is unrelated to AF ordering in Cr.