Anomalous Superconducting Proximity Effect in Hybrid Oxide Heterostructures with Antiferromagnetic Layer

TL;DR

This study explores how an antiferromagnetic interlayer affects superconducting current transport in oxide heterostructures, revealing enhanced current flow and magnetic field sensitivity, which could inform future superconductor device designs.

Contribution

It demonstrates that incorporating an antiferromagnetic layer in oxide heterostructures enhances superconducting current transport and alters magnetic field response, a novel finding in superconductor heterostructures.

Findings

Superconducting current transport is increased with the antiferromagnetic layer.

Critical current is highly sensitive to magnetic field magnitude and direction.

Enhanced current transport compared to non-antiferromagnetic heterostructures.

Abstract

We report an investigation of current transport in Nb/Au/CaSrCuO/YBaCuO heterostructures including an antiferromagnetic interlayer (CaSrCuO). Epitaxial thin films of YBaCuO and CaSrCuO were grown by laser ablation on NdGaO substrates; the thicknesses of CaSrCuO films were 20 and 50 nm, and x=0.15 or 0.5. Our experimental results show that the superconducting current transport is increased in the Nb/Au/CaSrCuO/YBaCuO heterostructures in comparison with the ones observed in previously studied Nb/Au/YBaCuO heterostructures. It was found that the critical current of the structure is very sensitive to the absolute value and direction of the external magnetic field.