Amplification of spin-current polarization

A ferromagnet/semiconductor based electrically controlled spin-current amplifier using a dual-drain nonlocal lateral spin valve is demonstrated. The spin polarization injected by the source into the channel is amplified at the second drain contact. An amplified current spin polarization of 100% is measured. The controlled variation of amplifier gain with bias is also demonstrated. The observations are explained in the framework of the spin drift-diffusion model. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.