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Register a new userSkew Andreev reflection in ferromagnet/superconductor junctions
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Andreev reflection (AR) in ferromagnet/superconductor junctions is an indispensable spectroscopic tool for measuring spin polarization. We study theoretically how the presence of a thin semiconducting interface in such junctions, inducing Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling, modifies AR processes. The interface gives rise to an effective momentum- and spin-dependent scattering potential, making the probability of AR strongly asymmetric with respect to the sign of the incident electrons transverse momenta. This skew AR creates spatial charge carrier imbalances and transverse Hall currents flow in the ferromagnet. We show that the effect is giant, as compared to the normal regime. We provide a quantitative analysis and a qualitative picture of this phenomenon, and finally show that skew AR also leads to a widely tunable transverse supercurrent response in the superconductor.
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We theoretically study the electronic transport through a ferromagnet-Ising superconductor junction. A tight-binding Hamiltonian describing the Ising superconductor is presented. Then by combing the non-equilibrium Greens function method, the expressions of Andreev reflection coefficient and conductance are obtained. A strong magnetoanisotropic spin-triplet Andreev reflection is shown, and the magnetoanisotropic period is $pi$ instead of $2pi$ as in the conventional magnetoanisotropic system. We demonstrate a significant increase of the spin-triplet Andreev reflection for the single-band Ising superconductor. Furthermore, the dependence of the Andreev reflection on the incident energy and incident angle are also investigated. A complete Andreev reflection can occur when the incident energy is equal to the superconductor gap, regardless of the Fermi energy (spin polarization) of the ferromagnet. For the suitable oblique incidence, the spin-triplet Andreev reflection can be strongly enhanced. In addition, the conductance spectroscopies of both zero bias and finite bias are studied, and the influence of gate voltage, exchange energy, and spin-orbit coupling on the conductance spectroscopy are discussed in detail. The conductance reveals a strong magnetoanisotropy with period $pi$ as the Andreev reflection coefficient. When the magnetization direction is parallel to the junction plane, a large conductance peak always emerges at the superconductor gap. This work offers a comprehensive and systematic study of the spin-triplet Andreev reflection, and has underlying application of $pi$-periodic spin valve in spintronics.
As charge carriers traverse a single superconductor ferromagnet interface they experience an additional spin-dependent phase angle which results in spin mixing and the formation of a bound state called the Andreev Bound State. This state is an essential component in the generation of long range spin triplet proximity induced superconductivity and yet the factors controlling the degree of spin mixing and the formation of the bound state remain elusive. Here we demonstrate that point contact Andreev reflection can be used to detect the bound state and extract the resulting spin mixing angle. By examining spectra taken from La1.15Sr1.85Mn2O7 single crystal - Pb junctions, together with a compilation of literature data on highly spin polarised systems, we show that the existence of the Andreev Bound State both resolves a number of long standing controversies in the Andreev literature as well as defining a route to quantify the strength of spin mixing at superconductor-ferromagnet interfaces. Intriguingly we find that for these high transparency junctions, the spin mixing angle appears to take a relatively narrow range of values across all the samples studied. The ferromagnets we have chosen to study share a common property in terms of their spin arrangement, and our observations may point to the importance of this property in determining the spin mixing angle under these circumstances.
Our previous point-contact Andreev reflection studies of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn$_5$ using Au tips have shown two clear features: reduced Andreev signal and asymmetric background conductance [1]. To explore their physical origins, we have extended our measurements to point-contact junctions between single crystalline heavy-fermion metals and superconducting Nb tips. Differential conductance spectra are taken on junctions with three heavy-fermion metals, CeCoIn$_5$, CeRhIn$_5$, and YbAl$_3$, each with different electron mass. In contrast with Au/CeCoIn$_5$ junctions, Andreev signal is not reduced and no dependence on effective mass is observed. A possible explanation based on a two-fluid picture for heavy fermions is proposed. [1] W. K. Park et al., Phys. Rev. B 72 052509 (2005); W. K. Park et al., Proc. SPIE-Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 5932 59321Q (2005); W. K. Park et al., Physica C (in press) (cond-mat/0606535).
Sub-gap conductance at a large area junction with a rough interface of a ferromagnet and a high-T$_{C}$ superconductor is superimposed by multiple peaks which is not expected from an ideal point contact Andreev reflection process. We demonstrate this phenomenon by measuring resistance as a function of bias voltage of a Co/Y$_{1}$Ba$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-delta}$ junction with contact area 50 x 70 $mu$ $m^{2}$ at various temperatures. In order to analyze such Andreev reflection data, the interface is assumed to have random potentials which can create local electric fields. The Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk theory is modified with the inclusion of a broadening parameter due to finite life time effects of quasi particles. An additional voltage drop due to local electric fields at the rough interface has been included in terms of an extra energy shift which may be related to the asymmetry of normalized resistance data. Spin polarization has been introduced for the ferromagnet. The presented model explains the multi-peak nature and asymmetry of Andreev reflection data experimentally observed at large area junctions. Extension of the model also interprets the experimentally observed anomalous enhancement of resistance peaks in the sub-gap region which may result from crossing the critical current limit across the junction.
We realized point contact spectroscopy experiment on ferromagnet/superconductor bilayers. Differential conductance curves show several features that we explained within Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism considering the presence of two interfaces in the normal-metal-tip/ferromagnet/superconductor device. We demonstrate that such configuration is suitable as local probe of the spin polarization and thickness of ferromagnetic layer, directly on bilayer areas. This is due to the high sensitivity of the Andreev surface states to the physical properties of the ferromagnetic interlayer.
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