Abstract

FZJ-2021-03094

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Inverse proximity effects in superconductor/ferromagnet heterostructures: a study by GISANS with polarization analysis

STELLHORN, A.FZJ* ; KENTZINGER, E.FZJ* ; SARKAR, A. ; PIPICH, V.FZJ* ; KRYCKA, K. ; SCHÖFFMANN, P.FZJ* ; BHATNAGAR, T.FZJ* ; BRÜCKEL, T.FZJ*

2021

Abstract: Proximity effects in superconductor(S)/ferromagnet(F) heterostructures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy can manifest in various forms such as domain-wall-superconductivity [1] and the generation of long-ranged spin-triplet Cooper pairs [2]. Understanding the origin of such phenomena is the key for an application in fluxonic devices and in spintronics, respectively [3, 4]. Especially a modification of the ferromagnetic domain structure by the onset of superconductivity is barely studied, due to only small variations of the ferromagnetic state with much higher Curie temperature compared to the critical temperature of BCS superconductors.Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (GISANS) with polarization analysis is the method of choice to study depth-resolved lateral magnetic structures on the mesoscopic length-scale, and enables to investigate the proximity effects in S/F systems with high sensitivity to changes in the magnetic orientation of the ferromagnetic domain pattern.This work presents a combined study of the macroscopic superconducting and ferromagnetic parameters, and a mesoscopic investigation of the lateral magnetic depth-profile as function of temperature in a model system of Nb(S)/FePd(F) grown by molecular beam epitaxy.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Streumethoden (JCNS-2)
2. Streumethoden (PGI-4)
3. JARA-FIT (JARA-FIT)
4. JCNS-FRM-II (JCNS-FRM-II)

Research Program(s):

1. 632 - Materials – Quantum, Complex and Functional Materials (POF4-632) (POF4-632)
2. 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) (FZJ) (POF4-6G4) (POF4-6G4)

Appears in the scientific report 2021

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