Spin-Diffusion Lengths in Dilute Cu(Ge) and Ag(Sn) Alloys
  We use current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) exchange-biased spin-valves to directly measure spin diffusion lengths lsf for N = Cu(2.1 at.%Ge) and Ag(3.6 at.%Sn) alloys. We find lsf(Cu2%Ge)) = 117+10-6 nm and lsf(Ag4%Sn)= 39 +/- 3 nm. The good agreement of this lsf(Cu2%Ge) with the value lsf(Cu2%Ge) = 121 +/- 10 nm derived from an independent spin-orbit cross-section measurement for Ge in Cu, quantitatively validates the use of Valet-Fert theory for CPP-MR data analysis to layer thicknesses several times larger than had been done before.   From the value of lsf(Ag4%Sn), we predict the ESR spin-orbit cross-section for Sn impurities in Ag. 
Q. Fowler, B. Richard, A. Sharma, N. Theodoropoulou, R. Loloee, W.P.   Pratt Jr., and J. Bass