Large tuneable exchange fields due to purely paramagnetically limited domain wall superconductivity

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that superconductor/ferromagnet bilayers can be locally tuned with magnetic fields to switch superconductivity on and off, with potential applications in quantum devices like Majorana fermions.

Contribution

It reveals the novel phenomenon of complete superconducting state switching in S/F bilayers due to domain wall induced exchange field tunability.

Findings

Achieved magnetic field tunability up to 1.3T in Nb/GdN bilayers.

Demonstrated complete switching of superconductivity with small external fields.

Observed enhancement of superconducting Tc near domain walls.

Abstract

The ability to locally apply and tune large magnetic fields is a crucial requirement for several devices, most notably for detection and generation of majorana fermions. Such a functionality can be achieved in Superconductor (S) /Ferromagnet (F) bilayers, where superconductivity is strengthened on top of domain walls due to local lowering of the proximity induced effective exchange fields. This is predicted to result in significant superconducting Tc enhancements and possible complete magnetic controlled switching on and off of the superconducting state. By using thin films of superconducting Nb and ferromagnetic insulating (GdN) bilayers, and through detailed magneto-transport measurements, we demonstrate the previously unobserved phenomena of complete switching in and out of the S state in S/F bilayers. In the thinnest of Nb layers, we estimate that the domain wall state induced tunability of proximity induced exchange fields can be as high as 1.3T with application of in plane external fields of only a few mT.