Optimization of Spin-Triplet Supercurrent in Ferromagnetic Josephson Junctions

Carolin Klose, Trupti S. Khaire, Yixing Wang, W. P. Pratt, Jr., Norman O. Birge, B. J. McMorran, T. P. Ginley, J. A. Borchers, B. J. Kirby, B. B. Maranville, and J. Unguris
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 127002 – Published 20 March 2012
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Abstract

We have observed long-range spin-triplet supercurrents in Josephson junctions containing ferromagnetic (F) materials, which are generated by noncollinear magnetizations between a central Co/Ru/Co synthetic antiferromagnet and two outer thin F layers. Here we show that the spin-triplet supercurrent is enhanced up to 20 times after our samples are subject to a large in-plane field. This occurs because the synthetic antiferromagnet undergoes a “spin-flop” transition, whereby the two Co layer magnetizations end up nearly perpendicular to the magnetizations of the two thin F layers. We report direct experimental evidence for the spin-flop transition from scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis and from spin-polarized neutron reflectometry. These results represent a first step toward experimental control of spin-triplet supercurrents.

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  • Received 18 August 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.127002

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Carolin Klose, Trupti S. Khaire, Yixing Wang, W. P. Pratt, Jr., and Norman O. Birge*

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-2320, USA

B. J. McMorran, T. P. Ginley, J. A. Borchers, B. J. Kirby, B. B. Maranville, and J. Unguris

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA

  • *birge@pa.msu.edu
  • Present address: Physics Department, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA 16652, USA.

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 12 — 23 March 2012

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