Temperature dependence of magnetocurrent of hot electrons in a spin-valve transistor

Spin-dependent transport of hot electrons across a spin valve has been studied as function of temperature using a spin-valve transistor with a soft Ni80Fe20/Au/Co spin-valve base. Spin-dependent scattering makes the collector current highly sensitive to small magnetic fields that change the magnetic state of the base. The magnetocurrent approaches 400% at 100K but decays to about 240% at room temperature. The reduction is attributed to mixing of the two spin channels due to spin-flip scattering of hot electrons by thermal spin waves.