Local Density of States in Superconductor-Ferromagnetic Hybrid Systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the local density of states in superconductor-ferromagnet hybrids is affected by the interplay of superconductivity and ferromagnetism, revealing spin-dependent modifications and long-range polarization effects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the spin-dependent local DOS modifications and the emergence of a spin-dependent gap in finite-length ferromagnets.

Findings

DOS is modified at small energies near the interface

Spin polarization effects extend over long distances

Finite ferromagnets exhibit a spin-dependent gap

Abstract

In this Letter we discuss various properties of the local density of states (DOS) for a superconductor-ferromagnet hybrid system. The DOS is modified at small energies on both sides of the interface. Due to the interplay of superconductivity and ferromagnetism, the local DOS depends on the spin direction. The spin polarization effects extend over a long distance from the interface both in the superconductor and in the ferromagnet. If the ferromagnet is of finite lenght, the DOS shows a (spin dependent) gap.