Spin relaxation at sputtered metallic interfaces

We review published experimental information about spin relaxation at sputtered metal/metal interfaces, considering separately interfaces between two non-magnetic (N) metals and ones involving one or two ferromagnetic (F) metals. Such spin relaxation is described by a parameter δ, where the probability of spin relaxation in crossing an interface is P=(1−exp(−δ)). $\delta_{\mathrm{N1/N2}}$ for interfaces between two different N metals varies substantially from one metal pair to another. Assuming spin–orbit scattering to dominate, one might expect $\delta_{\mathrm{N1/N2}}$ to correlate with the difference in atomic numbers between the two metals, but any such correlation is not clear. $\delta_{\mathrm{F/N}}$ and $\delta_{\mathrm{F1/F2}}$ between F and N metals, or between two different F metals, seem to vary less for the pairs so far studied. Understanding of δ in any of these cases is still lacking.