Remotely induced magnetism in a normal metal using a superconducting spin-valve

Superconducting spintronics has emerged in the past decade as a promising new field that seeks to open a new dimension for nanoelectronics by utilizing the internal spin structure of the superconducting Cooper pair as a new degree of freedom1, 2. Its basic building blocks are spin-triplet Cooper pairs with equally aligned spins, which are promoted by proximity of a conventional superconductor to a ferromagnetic material with inhomogeneous macroscopic magnetization3. Using low-energy muon spin-rotation experiments we find an unanticipated effect, in contradiction with the existing theoretical models of superconductivity and ferromagnetism: the appearance of a magnetization in a thin layer of a non-magnetic metal (gold), separated from a ferromagnetic double layer by a 50-nm-thick superconducting layer of Nb. The effect can be controlled either by temperature or by using a magnetic field to control the state of the remote ferromagnetic elements, and may act as a basic building block for a new generation of quantum interference devices based on the spin of a Cooper pair

Pt and CoB trilayer Josephson π junctions with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

We report on the electrical transport properties of Nb based Josephson junctions with Pt/Co68B32/Pt ferromagnetic barriers. The barriers exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, which has the main advantage for potential applications over magnetisation in-plane systems of not affecting the Fraunhofer response of the junction. In addition, we report that there is no magnetic dead layer at the Pt/Co68B32 interfaces, allowing us to study barriers with ultra-thin Co68B32. In the junctions, we observe that the magnitude of the critical current oscillates with increasing thickness of the Co68B32 strong ferromagnetic alloy layer. The oscillations are attributed to the ground state phase difference across the junctions being modified from zero to π. The multiple oscillations in the thickness range 0.2 ⩽ dCoB ⩽ 1.4 nm suggests that we have access to the first zero-π and π-zero phase transitions. Our results fuel the development of low-temperature memory devices based on ferromagnetic Josephson junctions

Compact Josephson φ-junctions

This chapter is devoted to the study of controllable proximity effects in superconductors (S), in terms of both fundamental aspects and applications. As a part of the work, theoretical description was suggested for a number of structures with superconducting electrodes and multiple interlayers with new physics related to the proximity effect and nanoscale φ-junctions. They are Josephson structures with the phase of the ground state φg, 0 < φg < π φ-junctions can be created on the basis of longitudinally oriented normal metal (N) and ferromagnetics (F) layers between superconducting electrodes. Under certain conditions, the amplitude of the first harmonic in the current-phase relation (CPR) is relatively small due to F layer. The coupling across N layer provides negative sign of the second harmonic. To derive quantitative criteria for realization of a φ-junction, we have solved two-dimensional boundary-value problem in the frame of Usadel equations for overlap and ramp geometries of different structures with NF bilayer. This chapter is focused on different geometries of nanoscale φ-structures of the size much less than Josephson penetration depth λJ. At the same time, φ-state cannot be realized in conventional SNS and SFS sandwiches. Proximity effect between N and F layers limits minimal possible size of φ-junction. In the case of smaller junctions, NF bilayer becomes almost homogeneous, φ-state is prohibited, and junction exists in 0- or π-state. The conditions for realization of φ-junctions in ramp-type S–NF–S, overlap-type SFN–FN–NFS, and RTO-type SN–FN–NS geometries are discussed in the chapter. It is shown that RTO-type SN–FN–NS geometry is most suitable for practical realization. It is also shown in this chapter that the parameter range of φ-state existence can be sufficiently broadened. It allows to realize Josephson φ-junctions using up-to-date technology. By varying the temperature, we can slightly shift the region of 0-π transition and, consequently, we can control the mentioned phase of the ground state. Furthermore, sensitivity of the ground state to an electron distribution function permits applications of φ-junctions as small-scale self-biasing single-photon detectors. Moreover, these junctions are controllable and have degenerate ground states +φ and −φ, providing necessary condition for the so-called silent quantum bits

The HIV-1 Env Protein: A Coat of Many Colors

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is completely dependent upon the Env protein to enter cells. The virus typically replicates in activated CD4+ T cells due to viral entry requirements for the CCR5 coreceptor and for high surface levels of the CD4 receptor. This is the case for the transmitted virus and for most of the virus sampled in the blood. Over the course of infection, the env gene can evolve to encode a protein with altered receptor and coreceptor usage allowing the virus to enter alternative host cells. In about 50% of HIV-1 infections, the viral population undergoes coreceptor switching, usually late in disease, allowing the virus to use CXCR4 to enter a different subset of CD4+ T cells. Neurocognitive disorders occur in about 10% of infections, also usually late in disease, but caused (ultimately) by viral replication in the brain either in CD4+ T cells or macrophage and/or microglia. Expanded host range is significantly intertwined with pathogenesis. Identification and characterization of such HIV-1 variants may be useful for early detection which would allow intervention to reduce viral pathogenesis in these alternative cell types