Spin rectification in thermally driven XXZ spin chain via the spin-Seebeck effect

Abstract

We study the phenomenon of spin-current rectification in a one-dimensional XXZ spin chain in the presence of a thermal drive. In our model a pure spin current is generated by a temperature difference between two harmonic heat baths which in turn creates a spin voltage via the spin-Seebeck effect. Along with a local spin-current operator definition and the nonequilibrium modified Redfield solution we study the spin-rectification ratio as a function of system size and external magnetic field. Intriguing effects are observed at low temperatures such as oscillations with system size and high range of tunability with external magnetic field making magnetic insulators, which are well described by the XXZ model, ideal candidates to build spin devices based on rectification.