  We perform a systematical analysis of the spin Hall effect (SHE) in the Cu
alloys doped with a series of 5d elements, by the combined approach of density
functional theory and Hartree-Fock approximation. We find that not only the
spin orbit interactions (SOI) in both the 5d and 6p orbitals, but also the
local correlations in the 5d orbitals of the impurities, are decisive on the
sign of the spin Hall angle (SHA). Including all of these three factors
properly, we predict the SHA for each alloy in the series. The signs of CuIr
and CuPt are sensitive to perturbation of the local correlations. This
observation is favorable for controlling the sign of the transverse spin Hall
voltage.
