When measured spin polarization is not spin polarization

Peter Dowben, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Ning Wu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Christian Binek, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Document Type Article

Copyright 2011 IOP Publishing Ltd

Abstract

Spin polarization is an unusually ambiguous scientific idiom and, as such, is rarely well defined. A given experimental methodology may allow one to quantify a spin polarization but only in its particular context. As one might expect, these ambiguities sometimes give rise to inappropriate interpretations when comparing the spin polarizations determined through different methods. The spin polarization of CrO₂ and Cr₂O₃ illustrate some of the complications which hinders comparisons of spin polarization values.