English

Superconducting proximity effect in a diffusive ferromagnet with spin-active interfaces

Superconductivity 2009-11-11 v2 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics

Abstract

We reconsider the problem of the superconducting proximity effect in a diffusive ferromagnet bounded by tunneling interfaces, using spin-dependent boundary conditions. This introduces for each interface a phase-shifting conductance Gphi which results from the spin dependence of the phase shifts acquired by the electrons upon scattering on the interface. We show that Gphi strongly affects the density of states and supercurrents predicted for superconducting/ferromagnetic hybrid circuits. We show the relevance of this effect by identifying clear signatures of Gphi in the data of T. Kontos et al [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 304 (2001), ibid. 89, 137007 (2002)].

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0505403,
  title  = {Superconducting proximity effect in a diffusive ferromagnet with spin-active interfaces},
  author = {Audrey Cottet and Wolfgang Belzig},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0505403},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett