Patent ID: 6403999
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: G01R,G11B

Abstract:
A method for estimating concentration of free electrons with a selected spin polarization in a semiconductor material, the method comprising:positioning a ferromagnetic material adjacent to a semiconductor material at an interface; impressing a static magnetic field with a selected field strength on the semiconductor material in a first selected direction; impressing a selected electromagnetic field, in a direction transverse to the first direction, on the semiconductor; injecting at least one spin-polarized free electron from the ferromagnetic material into the semiconductor, and allowing the at least one electron to move under the influence of the magnetic field and the electromagnetic field; measuring a Hall voltage in a second selected direction across the semiconductor at at least two selected spaced apart locations in a direction transverse to the second selected direction; and analyzing the Hall voltage measurements to estimate a concentration of free electrons with a selected spin polarization within the semiconductor at at least one of the at least two selected locations.