The physics of the $pi$ phase shift in ferromagnetic Josephson junctions may enable a range of applications for spin-electronic devices and quantum computing. We investigate transitions from ``0 to ``$pi$ states in Nb/Fe/Nb Josephson junctions by varying the Fe barrier thickness from 0.5 nm to 5.5 nm. From magnetic measurements we estimate for Fe a magnetic dead layer of about 1.1 nm. By fitting the characteristic voltage oscillations with existing theoretical models we extrapolate an exchange energy of 256 meV, a Fermi velocity of $1.98 times 10^5$ m/s and an electron mean free path of 6.2 nm, in agreement with other reported values. From the temperature dependence of the $I_CR_N$ product we show that its decay rate exhibits a nonmonotonic oscillatory behavior with the Fe barrier thickness.
Download