Spin injection into semiconductors: towards a semiconductor-based spintronic device

Spin electronic or spintronics is a rapidly growing research field aimed at realizing new high-performance devices that takes advantage of the electron spin as well as of its charge. It is expected that the extension of spintronics to the semiconductors would lead to the development of a new class of functional devices. To do so, the mechanisms at the origin of spin injection and collection with the semiconductors have to be studied first. The aim of this article is to summarize the main results that have been obtained recently in this field. To cite this article: A. Bsiesy, C. R. Physique 6 (2005).