Nanoscale ferromagnet-superconductor-ferromagnet switches controlled by magnetization orientation

Klaus Halterman; Oriol T. Valls

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.72.060514

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Nanoscale ferromagnet-superconductor-ferromagnet switches controlled by magnetization orientation

Klaus Halterman, Oriol T. Valls

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.060514 · Physical Review B

T1

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Abstract

We study clean ferromagnet-superconductor-ferromagnet (FSF) nanostructures in which the magnetization of the F layers can be parallel (P) or antiparallel (AP). We consider the case where the thickness of the S layer is of order of the coherence length, with thinner F layers. We find that reversing the direction of the magnetization in one of the F layers can lead to drastic changes in the superconductor’s state. Under a wide variety of conditions, the AP geometry favors superconductivity. Magnetization reversal in one of the F layers can lead to the superconductivity turning on and off, or to switching between different states. Our results are obtained via the self-consistent solution of the Bogoliubov–de Gennes equations and evaluation of the condensation energies of the system.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Formula	Reported Tc (K)	Pressure (GPa)	Type
La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
YBa2Cu3O7 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown