| Author(s): |
Benjamin James McMorran; Theresa Patricia Ginley; Julie A. Borchers; Brian J. Kirby; Brian B. Maranville; John Unguris; |
| Title: |
Optimization of Spin-triplet Supercurrent in Ferromagnetic Josephson Junctions |
| Published: |
March 20, 2012 |
| Abstract: |
In the past year, several groups have observed evidence for long-range spin-triplet, supercurrent in Josephson junctions containing ferromagnetic (F) materials. In our work, the spin-triplet pair correlations are created by non-collinear magnetizations between a central Co/Ru/Co "synthetic antiferromagnet" (SAF) and two outer think F layers. Here we present data showing that the spin-triplet supercurrent is enhanced up to 20 times after our samples are subject to a large in-plane magnetizing field. This surprising result can be explained if the Co/Ru/Co SAF undergones a "spin-flop" transition, whereby the two Co layer magnetizations end up perpendicular to the magnetizations of the two think F layers. Direct experimental evidence for the spin-flop transition comes from scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis and from spin-polorized neutron reflectometry. |
| Citation: |
Physical Review Letters |
| Volume: |
108 |
| Issue: |
12 |
| Pages: |
pp. 127002-1 - 127002-5 |
| Keywords: |
Josephson Junction; Supercurrent Effect; Spin-flop transition; Polarized neutron reflectivity; SEMPA |
| Research Areas: |
Condensed Matter Physics |
| PDF version: |
 Click here to retrieve PDF version of paper (2MB) |
