Determination of the Spin Polarization of RFe2 (R = Dy, Er, Y) by Point Contact Andreev Reflection

TL;DR

This study measures the spin polarization of RFe2 (R=Dy, Er, Y) thin films using point contact Andreev reflection, revealing consistent spin polarization values linked to the Fe sub-lattice, regardless of the rare earth element.

Contribution

It demonstrates that point contact Andreev reflection can effectively probe the Fe sub-lattice spin polarization in RFe2 compounds, showing no variation with different rare earth elements.

Findings

Spin polarization values are close to that of Fe.

No variation in spin polarization with different R elements.

Technique probes the Fe sub-lattice driving spintronic effects.

Abstract

Epitaxially grown intermetallic RFe2 (R = Dy, Er, Y) thin films have been studied by point contact Andreev reflection. Spin polarization values were extracted by fitting normalized conductance curves for mechanical Nb/RFe2 point contacts, using a modified Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk (BTK) model. Good agreement is found between this model and the experimentally obtained data. Extracted values of spin polarization, which are close to the spin polarization of Fe, reveal no variation with the rare earth component for the measured intermetallic compounds. This suggests that using this technique we probe the Fe sub-lattice, and that this lattice drives spintronic effects in these compounds.