It is proposed that when a charge current circulates in a paramagnetic metal a transverse spin imbalance will be generated, giving rise to a “spin Hall voltage.” Similarly, it is proposed that when a spin current circulates a transverse charge imbalance will be generated, giving rise to a Hall voltage, in the absence of charge current and magnetic field. Based on these principles we propose an experiment to generate and detect a spin current in a paramagnetic metal.

• Received 24 February 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.1834