  We have measured electron spin accumulation at 4.2 K and at room temperature
in an aluminium island with all dimensions (400nm x 400nm x 30nm) smaller than
the spin relaxation length. For the first time, we obtain uniform spin
accumulation in a four-terminal lateral device with a magnitude exceeding the
ohmic resistance in the island. By controlling the magnetisation directions of
the four magnetic electrodes that contact the island, we have performed a
detailed study of the spin accumulation. Spin precession measurements confirm
the uniformity of our system and provide an accurate method to extract the spin
relaxation time.
