Low spin-flip probability of Kondo scattering in Cu channels with dilute Fe impurities
Date
2026-02-24
Authors
Shen, Xingyu
Ji, Yi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Physical Review B
Abstract
It is commonly accepted that the Kondo effect is associated with a substantial probability of spin flip owing to the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction. An accurate experimental determination of the Kondo spin flip probability is of fundamental interest. In this work, we determine this quantity by using nonlocal spin valves with nonmagnetic Cu channels that contain dilute magnetic Fe impurities. The measured spin flip probability is considerably lower than previously assumed and decreases from 0.14 ± 0.07 to 0.032 ± 0.007 as the Kondo resistivity increases from 0.61 nΩ cm to 8.7 nΩ cm. The findings are attributed to a cancellation effect from randomly oriented impurity spins within the spatial extent of the Kondo screening cloud.
Description
This article was originally published in Physical Review B . The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1103/kxbn-933y
The author or the author's employer may use all or part of the APS published article, including the APS-prepared version (e.g., the PDF from the online journal) without revision or modification, on the author's or employer's website as long as a fee is not charged. If a fee is charged, then APS permission must be sought. In all cases, the appropriate bibliographic citation and notice of the APS copyright must be included.
Keywords
Exchange interaction, Impurities, Kondo effect, Spin current, Spin diffusion, Spin relaxation, Spin valves
Citation
"Shen, X., & Ji, Y. (2026). Low spin-flip probability of Kondo scattering in Cu channels with dilute Fe impurities. Physical Review B, 113(8), 085141. https://doi.org/10.1103/kxbn-933y "