Supra-oscillatory critical temperature dependence of Nb-Ho bilayers

F. Chiodi, J. D. S. Witt, R. G. J. Smits, L. Qu, Gábor B. Halász, C.-T. Wu, O. T. Valls, K. Halterman, J. W. A. Robinson, M. G. Blamire
2013 Europhysics letters  
We investigate the critical temperature Tc of a thin s-wave superconductor (Nb) proximity coupled to a helical rare earth ferromagnet (Ho). As a function of the Ho layer thickness, we observe multiple oscillations of Tc superimposed on a slow decay, that we attribute to the influence of the Ho on the Nb proximity effect. Because of Ho inhomogeneous magnetization, singlet and triplet pair correlations are present in the bilayers. We take both into consideration when solving the self consistent
more » ... goliubov-de Gennes equations, and we observe a reasonable agreement. We also observe non-trivial transitions into the superconducting state, the zero resistance state being attained after two successive transitions which appear to be associated with the magnetic structure of Ho.
doi:10.1209/0295-5075/101/37002 fatcat:kahtbmch5nfptjv6osdqoxo52m