Thermoelectric Effects in Magnetic Nanostructures
arXiv:0901.2126 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.79.174426
Abstract
We model and evaluate the Peltier and Seebeck effects in magnetic multilayer nanostructures by a finite-element theory of thermoelectric properties. We present analytical expressions for the thermopower and the current-induced temperature changes due to Peltier cooling/heating. The thermopower of a magnetic element is in general spin-polarized, leading to spin-heat coupling effects. Thermoelectric effects in spin valves depend on the relative alignment of the magnetization directions and are sensitive to spin-flip scattering as well as inelastic collisions in the normal metal spacer.
14 pages, 7 figures, 1 table. Published