Paramagnetic instability at normal-metal-superconductor interfaces

We study the proximity coherence in a mesoscopic normal-metal film in conta ct with a superconductor. Accounting for a repulsive interaction between th e electrons in the normal metal, we find an enhanced local density of state s close to the normal-metal-superconductor intel face. The sharp peak in th e density is pinned to the Fermi energy and leads to spontaneous paramagnet ic interface currents. The induced orbital magnetic moments exhibit the cha racteristic features of the paramagnetic reentrance observed in normal-meta l coated superconducting cylinders [P. Visani, A.C. Mota, and A. Pollini, P hys. Rev. Lett. 65, 1514 (1990)]. [S0031-9007(99)08939-5].