Flokstra, MG, Stewart, R, Satchell, N orcid.org/0000-0003-1597-2489 et al. (6 more authors) (2021) Meissner screening as a probe for inverse superconductor-ferromagnet proximity effects. Physical Review B, 104 (6). L060506. ISSN 2469-9950
Abstract
We present experimental results on the observed flux screening in proximity coupled superconductor-ferromagnet thin film structures using Nb and Co as the superconductor and ferromagnet respectively. Using the low-energy muon-spin rotation technique to locally probe the magnetic flux density, we find that the addition of the ferromagnet (F) increases the total flux screening inside the superconductor. Two contributions can be distinguished. One is consistent with the predicted spin-polarization (or magnetic proximity) effect, while the other is in line with the recently emerged electromagnetic (EM) proximity models. Furthermore, we show that the addition of a few nanometers of a normal metallic layer between the Nb and the Co fully destroys the contribution due to electromagnetic proximity. This is unanticipated by the current theory models in which the magnetization in the F layer is assumed to be the only driving force for the EM effect and suggests the role of additional factors. Further experiments to explore the influence of the direction of the F magnetization also reveal deviations from theory. These findings are an important step forward in improving the theoretical description and understanding of proximity coupled systems.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 American Physical Society. This is an author produced version of a letter published in Physical Review B. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) > Condensed Matter (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) EP/J010634/1 EU - European Union 743791 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 25 Aug 2021 14:11 |
Last Modified: | 25 Aug 2021 14:11 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Physical Society |
Identification Number: | 10.1103/PhysRevB.104.L060506 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:177014 |