Estimation of the spin polarization for Heusler-compound thin films by means of nonlocal spin-valve measurements: Comparison of Co\(_{2}\)FeSi and Fe\(_{3}\)Si

Abstract

We study room-temperature generation and detection of pure spin currents using lateral spin-valve devices with Heusler-compound electrodes, Co\(_{2}\)FeSi (CFS) or Fe\(_{3}\)Si (FS). The magnitude of the nonlocal spin-valve (NLSV) signals is seriously affected by the dispersion of the resistivity peculiarly observed in the low-temperature grown Heusler compounds with ordered structures. From the analysis based on the one-dimensional spin diffusion model, we find that the spin polarization monotonically increases with decreasing the resistivity, which depends on the structural ordering, for both CFS and FS electrodes, and verify that CFS has relatively large spin polarization compared with FS.