Complete magnetic control over the superconducting thermoelectric effect

TL;DR

This paper predicts that the thermoelectric effect at superconductor-ferromagnet interfaces can be fully controlled and reversed using magnetic signals, enabling dynamic tuning of thermopower.

Contribution

It introduces a method for complete magnetic control over the superconducting thermoelectric effect, which is a novel approach compared to traditional fixed thermopower devices.

Findings

Thermopower can be toggled on and off by magnetic rotation.

Thermopower can be entirely reversed through magnetic control.

Magnetic input enables in situ, dynamic control of thermoelectric effects.

Abstract

Giant thermoelectric effects are known to arise at the interface between superconductors and strongly polarized ferromagnets, enabling the construction of efficient thermoelectric generators. We predict that the thermopower of such a generator can be completely controlled by a magnetic input signal: Not only can the thermopower be toggled on and off by rotating a magnet, but it can even be entirely reversed. This in situ control diverges from conventional thermoelectrics, where the thermopower is usually fixed by the device design.