Spin injection and detection experiment in a two dimensional electron gas with inter-digital-ferromagnetic contacts

Ferromagnetic contacts on a high-mobility two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in a narrow gap semiconductor with strong spin–orbit interaction are used to investigate spin polarised electron transport. In ballistic samples, the predicted increase on the device resistance is observed when the injector/detector magnetisation configuration is switched from parallel to anti-parallel. Spin dephasing and spin precession effects are studied as functions of temperature and 2DEG channel length.