We consider spin effects related to the random spin-orbit interaction in graphene. Such a random interaction can result from the presence of ripples and/or other inhomogeneities at the graphene surface. We show that the random spin-orbit interaction generally reduces the spin dephasing (relaxation) time, even if the interaction vanishes on average. Moreover, the random spin-orbit coupling also allows for spin manipulation with an external electric field. Due to the spin-flip interband as well as intraband optical transitions, the spin density can be effectively generated by periodic electric field in a relatively broad range of frequencies.

Thermoelectric effects in transport through a quantum dot coupled to external ferromagnetic leads are investigated theoretically. The basic thermoelectric transport characteristics, such as thermopower, electronic contribution to the heat conductance, and the corresponding figure of merit, are calculated in the linear response regime by means of the density-matrix numerical renormalization group method. The case of a nonzero spin splitting of the electrochemical potential in the electrodes is also considered and the associated spin thermoelectric effects are analyzed. It is shown that the spin-dependent thermoelectric phenomena in the local moment regime depend generally on the exchange field induced by ferromagnetic contacts. In addition, the temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient is rather nontrivial, and depends on the spin polarization and spin relaxation in the leads. In the presence of ferromagnetic leads, the thermopower as a function of temperature may change sign more times than the thermopower for nonmagnetic leads. These changes can be thus used to determine the relevant Kondo behavior and Kondo energy scale in the system. Moreover, the effects of external magnetic field and different spin polarization of ferromagnetic leads are also analyzed.

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Thermally activated domain-wall (DW) motion in magnetic insulators has been considered theoretically, with a particular focus on the role of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and thermomagnonic torques. The thermally assisted DW motion is a consequence of the magnonic spin current due to the applied thermal bias. In addition to the exchange magnonic spin current and the exchange adiabatic and the entropic spin transfer torques, we also consider the DMI-induced magnonic spin current, thermomagnonic DMI fieldlike torque, and the DMI entropic torque. Analytical estimations are supported by numerical calculations. We found that the DMI has a substantial influence on the size and the geometry of DWs, and that the DWs become oriented parallel to the long axis of the nanostrip. Increasing the temperature smoothes the DWs. Moreover, the thermally induced magnonic current generates a torque on the DWs, which is responsible for their motion. From our analysis it follows that for a large enough DMI the influence of DMI-induced fieldlike torque is much stronger than that of the DMI and the exchange entropic torques. By manipulating the strength of the DMI constant, one can control the speed of the DW motion, and the direction of the DW motion can be switched, as well. We also found that DMI not only contributes to the total magnonic current, but also it modifies the exchange magnonic spin current, and this modification depends on the orientation of the steady-state magnetization. The observed phenomenon can be utilized in spin caloritronics devices, for example in the DMI based thermal diodes. By switching the magnetization direction, one can rectify the total magnonic spin current.

Angular variation in giant magnetoresistance and spin-transfer torque in metallic spin-valve heterostructures is analyzed theoretically in the limit of diffusive transport. It is shown that the spin-transfer torque in asymmetric spin valves can vanish in noncollinear magnetic configurations, and such a nonstandard behavior of the torque is generally associated with a nonmonotonic angular dependence of the giant magnetoresistance, with a global minimum at a noncollinear magnetic configuration.

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In a spin-driven multiferroic system, the magnetoelectric coupling has the form of effective dynamical Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DM) interaction. Experimentally, it is confirmed, for instance, for Cu2OSeO3, that the DM interaction has an essential role in the formation of skyrmions, which are topologically protected magnetic structures. Those skyrmions are very robust and can be manipulated through an electric field. The external electric field couples to the spin-driven ferroelectric polarization and the skyrmionic magnetic texture emerged due to the DM interaction. In this work, we demonstrate the effect of optical tweezing. For a particular configuration of the external electric fields it is possible to trap or release the skyrmions in a highly controlled manner. The functionality of the proposed tweezer is visualized by micromagnetic simulations and model analysis.

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