45 research outputs found
Superconducting exchange coupling between ferromagnets.
Recent discoveries from superconductor (S)/ferromagnet (FM) heterostructures include π-junctions, triplet pairing, critical temperature (Tc) control in FM/S/FM superconducting spin valves (SSVs) and critical current control in S/FM/N/FM/S spin valve Josephson junctions (N: normal metal). In all cases, the magnetic state of the device, generally set by the applied field, controls the superconducting response. We report here the observation of the converse effect, that is, direct superconducting control of the magnetic state in GdN/Nb/GdN SSVs. A model for an antiferromagnetic effective exchange interaction based on the coupling of the superconducting condensation energy to the magnetic state can explain the Nb thickness and temperature dependence of this effect. This superconducting exchange interaction is fundamentally different in origin from the various exchange coupling phenomena that underlie conventional spin electronics (spintronics), and provides a mechanism for the active control of the magnetic state in superconducting spintronics.This work was supported by ERC AdG ‘Superspin’ and EPSRC Programme Grant EP/N017242/1.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Publishing Group at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmat475
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Strongly bias-dependent tunnel magnetoresistance in manganite spin filter tunnel junctions.
A highly unconventional bias-dependent tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) response is observed in Sm0.75 Sr0.25 MnO3 -based nanopillar spin filter tunnel junctions (SFTJs) with two different behaviors in two different thickness regimes of the barrier layer. Thinner barrier devices exhibit conventional SFTJ behaviors; however, for larger barrier thicknesses, the TMR-bias dependence is more complex and reverses sign at higher bias.This work was partially supported by the ERC Advanced Integrators Grant “SUPERSPIN”. B.P.
was funded by the Nehru Trust for Cambridge University and St John’s College. The TEM work at
Texas A&M was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF-DMR 0846504).This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/adma.201405147/abstract
Depairing critical current achieved in superconducting thin films with through-thickness arrays of artificial pinning centers
Large area arrays of through-thickness nanoscale pores have been milled into
superconducting Nb thin films via a process utilizing anodized aluminum oxide
thin film templates. These pores act as artificial flux pinning centers,
increasing the superconducting critical current, Jc, of the Nb films. By
optimizing the process conditions including anodization time, pore size and
milling time, Jc values approaching and in some cases matching the
Ginzburg-Landau depairing current of 30 MA/cm^2 at 5 K have been achieved - a
Jc enhancement over as-deposited films of more than 50 times. In the field
dependence of Jc, a matching field corresponding to the areal pore density has
also been clearly observed. The effect of back-filling the pores with magnetic
material has then been investigated. While back-filling with Co has been
successfully achieved, the effect of the magnetic material on Jc has been found
to be largely detrimental compared to voids, although a distinct influence of
the magnetic material in producing a hysteretic Jc versus applied field
behavior has been observed. This behavior has been tested for compatibility
with currently proposed models of magnetic pinning and found to be most closely
explained by a model describing the magnetic attraction between the flux
vortices and the magnetic inclusions.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure
Superconductor-ferromagnet nanocomposites created by co-deposition of niobium and dysprosium
We have created superconductor-ferromagnet composite films in order to test
the enhancement of critical current density, Jc, due to magnetic pinning. We
co-sputter the type-II superconductor niobium (Nb) and the low-temperature
ferromagnet dysprosium (Dy) onto a heated substrate; the immiscibility of the
two materials leads to a phase-separated composite of magnetic regions within a
superconducting matrix. Over a range of compositions and substrate
temperatures, we achieve phase separation on scales from 5 nm to 1 micron. The
composite films exhibit simultaneous superconductivity and ferromagnetism.
Transport measurements show that while the self-field Jc is reduced in the
composites, the in-field Jc is greatly enhanced up to the 3 T saturation field
of Dy. In one instance, the phase separation orders into stripes, leading to
in-plane anisotropy in Jc.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures. Matches the version published in SUST: Added one
reference and some discussion in Section
Enhanced spin pumping into superconductors provides evidence for superconducting pure spin currents.
Unlike conventional spin-singlet Cooper pairs, spin-triplet pairs can carry spin1,2. Triplet supercurrents were discovered in Josephson junctions with metallic ferromagnet spacers, where spin transport can occur only within the ferromagnet and in conjunction with a charge current. Ferromagnetic resonance injects a pure spin current from a precessing ferromagnet into adjacent non-magnetic materials3,4. For spin-singlet pairing, the ferromagnetic resonance spin pumping efficiency decreases below the critical temperature (Tc) of a coupled superconductor5,6. Here we present ferromagnetic resonance experiments in which spin sink layers with strong spin-orbit coupling are added to the superconductor. Our results show that the induced spin currents, rather than being suppressed, are substantially larger in the superconducting state compared with the normal state; although further work is required to establish the details of the spin transport process, we show that this cannot be mediated by quasiparticles and is most likely a triplet pure spin supercurrent
Structural and Superconducting Property Variations with Nominal Mg Non-Stoichiometry in MgxB2 and Its Enhancement of Upper Critical Field
By applying a combination of characterisation tools, changes in structural and superconducting properties with nominal Mg non-stoichiometry in MgxB2 are found. The non-stoichiometry produces enhanced in-field critical current densities (Jc’s) and upper critical field / irreversibility field (Hc2/Hirr(T)) values. Upper critical fields of ∼ 21 T (4.2 K) were obtained in nominal Mg-deficient samples compared to ∼ 17 T (4.2 K) for near-stoichiometric samples
Room Temperature Ferrimagnetism and Ferroelectricity in Strained, Thin Films of BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3.
Highly strained films of BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3 (BFMO) grown at very low rates by pulsed laser deposition were demonstrated to exhibit both ferrimagnetism and ferroelectricity at room temperature and above. Magnetisation measurements demonstrated ferrimagnetism (TC ∼ 600K), with a room temperature saturation moment (MS ) of up to 90 emu/cc (∼ 0.58 μB /f.u) on high quality (001) SrTiO3. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism showed that the ferrimagnetism arose from antiferromagnetically coupled Fe3+ and Mn3+. While scanning transmission electron microscope studies showed there was no long range ordering of Fe and Mn, the magnetic properties were found to be strongly dependent on the strain state in the films. The magnetism is explained to arise from one of three possible mechanisms with Bi polarization playing a key role. A signature of room temperature ferroelectricity in the films was measured by piezoresponse force microscopy and was confirmed using angular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The demonstration of strain induced, high temperature multiferroism is a promising development for future spintronic and memory applications at room temperature and above.This is the final published version. It's also available from Advanced Functional Materials: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.201401464/full