Reentrant superconductivity in superconductor/ferromagnetic-alloy bilayers

We studied the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) like state establishing due to the proximity effect in superconducting Nb/Cu41Ni59 bilayers. Using a special wedge-type deposition technique, series of 20-35 samples could be fabricated by magnetron sputtering during one run. The layer thickness of only a few nanometers, the composition of the alloy, and the quality of interfaces were controlled by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Auger spectroscopy. The magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic alloy layer were characterized with superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. These studies yield precise information about the thickness, and demonstrate the homogeneity of the alloy composition and magnetic properties along the sample series. The dependencies of the critical temperature on the Nb and Cu41Ni59 layer thickness, Tc(dS) and Tc(dF), were investigated for constant thickness dF of the magnetic alloy layer and dS of the superconducting layer, respectively. All types of non-monotonic behaviors of Tc versus dF predicted by the theory could be realized experimentally: from reentrant superconducting behavior with a broad extinction region to a slight suppression of superconductivity with a shallow minimum. Even a double extinction of superconductivity was observed, giving evidence for the multiple reentrant behavior predicted by theory. All critical temperature curves were fitted with suitable sets of parameters. Then, Tc(dF) diagrams of a hypothetical F/S/F spin-switch core structure were calculated using these parameters. Finally, superconducting spin-switch fabrication issues are discussed in detail in view of the achieved results.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figure

Experimental and theoretical analysis of the upper critical field in FSF trilayers

The upper critical magnetic field H_{c2} in thin-film FSF trilayer spin-valve cores is studied experimentally and theoretically in geometries perpendicular and parallel to the heterostructure surface. The series of samples with variable thicknesses of the bottom and of the top Cu_{41}Ni_{59} F-layers are prepared in a single run, utilizing a wedge deposition technique. The critical field H_{c2} is measured in the temperature range $0.4-8$ K and for magnetic fields up to 9 Tesla. A transition from oscillatory to reentrant behavior of the superconducting transition temperature versus F-layers thickness, induced by an external magnetic field, has been observed for the first time. In order to properly interpret the experimental data, we develop a quasiclassical theory, enabling one to evaluate the temperature dependence of the critical field and the superconducting transition temperature for an arbitrary set of the system parameters. A fairly good agreement between our experimental data and theoretical predictions is demonstrated for all samples, using a single set of fit parameters. This confirms adequacy of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) physics in determining the unusual superconducting properties of the studied Cu_{41}Ni_{59}/Nb/Cu_{41}Ni_{59} spin-valve core trilayers.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures; published versio

Reentrant Superconductivity and Superconducting Critical Temperature Oscillations in F/S/F trilayers of Cu41Ni59/Nb/Cu41Ni59 Grown on Cobalt Oxide

Ferromagnet/Superconductor/Ferromagnet (F/S/F) trilayers constitute the core of a superconducting spin valve. The switching effect of the spin valve is based on interference phenomena occurring due to the proximity effect at the S/F interfaces. A remarkable effect is only expected if the core structure exhibits strong critical temperature oscillations, or most favorable, reentrant superconductivity, when the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer is increased. The core structure has to be grown on an antiferromagnetic oxide layer (or such layer to be placed on top) to pin by exchange bias the magnetization-orientation of one of the ferromagnetic layers. In the present paper we demonstrate that this is possible, keeping the superconducting behavior of the core structure undisturbed.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl

A spin valve core structure based on the fulde-ferrell larkin-ovchinnikov like state: Studies on bilayers and trilayers of superconductors and ferromagnets

Interference effects of the superconducting pairing wave function in thin film bilayers of Nb as a superconductor (S) and Cu41Ni59 as ferromagnetic (F) material lead to critical temperature oscillations and reentrant superconductivity for increasing F-layer thickness. The phenomenon is generated by the Fulde-Ferrell Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) like state establishing in these geometries. So far detailed investigations were performed on S/F bilayers. Recently, we could also realize the phenomena in F/S bilayers where the S-metal now is grown on top of the F-material. Combining both building blocks yields an F/S/F trilayer, representing the core structure of the superconducting spin valve. Also for this geometry we observed deep critical temperature oscillations and reentrant superconductivity, which is the basis to obtain a large spin switching effect, i.e. a large shift in the critical temperature, if the relative orientation of the magnetizations of the F-layers is changed from parallel to antiparallel. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Critical temperature oscillations and reentrant superconductivity due to the FFLO like state in F/S/F trilayers

Ferromagnet/Superconductor/Ferromagnet (F/S/F) trilayers, in which the establishing of a Fulde-Ferrell Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) like state leads to interference effects of the superconducting pairing wave function, form the core of the superconducting spin valve. The realization of strong critical temperature oscillations in such trilayers, as a function of the ferromagnetic layer thicknesses or, even more efficient, reentrant superconductivity, are the key condition to obtain a large spin valve effect, i.e. a large shift in the critical temperature. Both phenomena have been realized experimentally in the Cu 41Ni 59/Nb/Cu 41Ni 59 trilayers investigated in the present work. Ferromagnet/Superconductor/Ferromagnet (F/S/F) trilayers, in which the establishing of a Fulde-Ferrell Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) like state leads to interference effects of the superconducting pairing wave function, form the core of the superconducting spin valve. The realization of strong critical temperature oscillations in such trilayers, as a function of the ferromagnetic layer thicknesses, are the key condition to obtain a large shift in the critical temperature. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Observation of the Triplet Spin-Valve Effect in a Superconductor-Ferromagnet Heterostructure

The theory of superconductor-ferromagnet (S-F) heterostructures with two ferromagnetic layers predicts the generation of a long-range, odd-in-frequency triplet pairing at non-collinear alignment (NCA) of the magnetizations of the F-layers. This triplet pairing has been detected in a Nb/Cu41Ni59/nc-Nb/Co/CoOx spin-valve type proximity effect heterostructure, in which a very thin Nb film between the F-layers serves as a normal conducting (nc) spacer. The resistance of the sample as a function of an external magnetic field shows that for not too high fields the system is superconducting at a collinear alignment of the Cu41Ni59 and Co layer magnetic moments, but switches to the normal conducting state at a NCA configuration. This indicates that the superconducting transition temperature Tc for NCA is lower than the fixed measuring temperature. The existence of a minimum Tc, at the NCA regime below that one for parallel or antiparallel alignments of the F-layer magnetic moments, is consistent with the theoretical prediction of a singlet superconductivity suppression by the long-range triplet pairing generation.Comment: 7 pages, 4 fgures, Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Double re-entrance of superconductivity in superconductor/ferromagnet bilayers

We report on the first observation of a double suppression of superconductivity in a superconductor/ferromagnet layered system. The result was obtained using a superconductor/ferromagnetic-alloy bilayer of Nb/Cu 41Ni59 with dNb 6.2 nm. As the thickness of the ferromagnetic alloy gradually increases, the superconducting transition temperature Tc drops sharply until a complete suppression of superconductivity is observed at dcuNi 2.5 nm. At further increase of the Cu41Ni59 layer thickness, superconductivity restores at dcuNi 24 nm. Then, with a subsequent increase of dcuNi, superconductivity vanishes again at dcuNi 38 nm. Our experiments give evidence for the realization of the quasi-one dimensional Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) like state in the ferromagnetic alloy layer. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd

Experimental observation of the triplet spin-valve effect in a superconductor-ferromagnet heterostructure

The theory of superconductor-ferromagnet heterostructures with two ferromagnetic layers predicts the generation of a long-range, odd-in-frequency triplet pairing at noncollinear alignment (NCA) of the magnetizations of the F layers. This triplet pairing has been detected in a Nb/Cu41Ni 59/normal conducting- (nc-) Nb/Co/CoOx spin-valve-type proximity effect heterostructure, in which a very thin Nb film between the F layers serves as a spacer of nc metal. The resistance of the sample as a function of an external magnetic field shows that for not too high fields, the system is superconducting at a collinear alignment of the Cu41Ni 59 and Co layer magnetic moments but switches to the normal conducting state at a NCA configuration. This indicates that the superconducting transition temperature Tc for NCA is lower than the fixed measuring temperature. The existence of a minimum Tc, at the NCA regime below that one for parallel or antiparallel alignments of the F-layer magnetic moments, is consistent with the theoretical prediction of a singlet superconductivity suppression by the long-range triplet pairing generation. © 2013 American Physical Society

Experimental and theoretical analysis of the upper critical field in ferromagnet-superconductor-ferromagnet trilayers

The upper critical magnetic field Hc2 in thin film ferromagnet-superconductor-ferromagnet trilayer spin-valve cores is studied experimentally and theoretically in geometries perpendicular and parallel to the heterostructure surface. The series of samples with variable thicknesses d F1 of the bottom and dF2 of the top Cu41Ni 59 ferromagnet (F) layers are prepared in a single run, utilizing a wedge deposition technique. The critical field Hc2 is measured in the temperature range 0.4-8 K and for magnetic fields up to 9 T. A transition from oscillatory to reentrant behavior of the superconducting transition temperature versus F-layer thickness, induced by an external magnetic field, has been observed for the first time. In order to properly interpret the experimental data, we develop a quasiclassical theory, enabling one to evaluate the temperature dependence of the critical field and the superconducting transition temperature for an arbitrary set of system parameters. A fairly good agreement between our experimental data and theoretical predictions is demonstrated for all samples, using a single set of fit parameters. This confirms the adequacy of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) physics in determining the unusual superconducting properties of the studied Cu41Ni59/Nb/ Cu41Ni59 spin-valve core trilayers. © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd

Quasi-one-dimensional Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov-like state in Nb/Cu0.41Ni0.59 bilayers

In a ferromagnet (F) being in contact with a superconductor (S) an unconventional finite-momentum pairing of electrons forming Cooper pairs occurs. As a consequence, interference effects of the pairing wave function, leading to an oscillation of the critical temperature for increasing F-layer thickness in S/F bilayers, including extinction and recovery of the superconducting state, were predicted by theory. We observed experimentally all types of this behavior, calculated theoretically, in Nb/Cu1-xNix bilayers (x = 0.59) of nanometer film thickness, prepared by magnetron sputtering (utilizing a moving magnetron deposition technique to provide a superb homogeneity of the ultrathin Nb layers), including a double extinction of superconductivity, giving evidence for a multiple reentrant state. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2009