Tunable spin Hall effect by Stern-Gerlach diffraction

We propose an effect based on simultaneous real- and reciprocal-space magnetic inhomogeneities, combining features of the Stern-Gerlach and both the intrinsic and extrinsic spin Hall effects. The known difficulties of directly observing the spin Hall effect are circumvented as spin currents generated from the effect are well-defined, dissipative, and detectable. Simulations of a specific system are used to illustrate wide tunability, allowing formation of a periodic “spin lattice” distinct from the “charge lattice,” selective polarization flipping, or spin current detection. Similar effects can be produced by photons and neutrons.