We study theoretically the effect of a rotating electric field on a diffusive nanowire and find an effect that is analogous to spin pumping, which refers to the generation of spin through a rotating magnetic field. The electron spin couples to the electric field because the particle motion induces an effective magnetic field in its rest frame. In a diffusive system the velocity of the particle, and therefore also its effective magnetic field, rapidly and randomly changes direction. Nevertheless, we demonstrate analytically and via a physical argument why the combination of the two effects described above produces a finite magnetization along the axis of rotation. This manifests as a measurable spin-voltage in the range of tens of microvolts.

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• Spin generation
• Spin pumping
• Spintronics
• Nanowires