Interplay between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in epitaxialNb(110)∕Au(111)∕Fe(110

Abstract

In order to clarify the influence of ferromagnetism on superconductivity through a normal-metal layer, the superconducting properties of epitaxial Nb ( These results suggest that a new and more subtle form of quantum interference occurs in very clean trilayer systems.

Relativistic spin-polarized KKR theory for superconducting heterostructures: Oscillating order parameter in the Au layer of Nb/Au/Fe trilayers

“…The order parameter in the Au enters the boundary conditions for superconductivity, hence it influences the T c as well. Yamazaki et al [6,7] also found oscillations in the critical temperatue with a period of nine layers. Our results suggest that these T c oscillations observed in that experiment may also 024514-7 be a consequence of the interplay between the quantum-well states and ferromagnetism.…”

“…The experimental study of the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism has been carried out for many S/F combinations, especially for Nb/Fe systems [6,7,[50][51][52]. Hence, we apply the theory to study the system of Fe overlayers on Nb(001) with assuming exchange field in the z direction.…”

“…Practically, all interesting phenomena related to the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism or relativistic effects in S/F structures exist at the nanoscale range. The observation of these effects became possible in the last decade due to the development in the preparation of high-quality heterostructures [6,7]. Relativistic effects can also have great consequences on superconductivity.…”

“…III the method is applied for Nb/Fe and Nb/Au/Fe heterostructures. For Nb/Au/Fe heterostructures, Yamazaki et al [6,7] have found long-period oscillations in the critical temperature as a function of the gold thickness. Interestingly, none of the models based on Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida coupling, Friedel oscillations, and FFLO oscillations (in the iron layers) were able to solve the puzzle behind the observed oscillatory behavior of T c .…”

Ferromagnetic proximity effect ina-CoxSi1−x/Nbbilayers: Role of magnetic disorder and interface transparency

“…23 For example, several studies have analyzed the role of interface characteristics in S/F proximity effects by working with S/N/F structures in which a thin layer of normal metal is introduced in between the S and F materials [24][25][26][27][28] or changing surface geometry in nanostructured hybrids. 29 Also, the length scale for saturation of the proximity effect depends on the ferromagnetic layer: it changes from the range 0.1-1 nm in strong ferromagnets 4 such as Fe or Co to the range 1-10 nm in weak ferromagnets, such as Cu-Ni and Cu-Pd alloys.…”