Spin-Valve Effect of the Spin Accumulation Resistance in a Double Ferromagnet - Superconductor Junction

TL;DR

This study investigates how the resistance in a ferromagnet-superconductor junction varies with magnetic alignment, revealing a spin-valve effect driven by spin accumulation and inverse proximity effects.

Contribution

It demonstrates the spin-valve effect in ferromagnet-superconductor nanostructures and links resistance changes to spin accumulation and inverse proximity effects.

Findings

Resistance depends on ferromagnetic alignment below critical temperature.

Spin accumulation influences superconducting electrode properties.

Inverse proximity effect plays a role in the observed phenomena.

Abstract

We have measured the transport properties of Ferromagnet - Superconductor nanostructures, where two superconducting aluminum (Al) electrodes are connected through two ferromagnetic iron (Fe) ellipsoids in parallel. We find that, below the superconducting critical temperature of Al, the resistance depends on the relative alignment of the ferromagnets' magnetization. This spin-valve effect is analyzed in terms of spin accumulation in the superconducting electrode submitted to inverse proximity effect.