Tunneling spectroscopy for ferromagnet/superconductor junctions

Citation
I. Zutic et Ot. Valls, Tunneling spectroscopy for ferromagnet/superconductor junctions, PHYS REV B, 61(2), 2000, pp. 1555-1566
Citations number
75
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW B
ISSN journal
10980121 → ACNP
Volume
61
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1555 - 1566
Database
ISI
SICI code
1098-0121(20000101)61:2<1555:TSFFJ>2.0.ZU;2-K
Abstract
In tunneling spectroscopy studies of ferromagnet/superconductor (F/S) junct ions, the effects of spin polarization, Fermi wave-vector mismatch (FWM) be tween the F and S regions, and interfacial resistance play a crucial role. We study the low bias conductance spectrum of these junctions, governed by Andreev reflection at the F/S interface. We present results for a range of values of the relevant parameters and find that a rich variety of features appears, depending on pairing state and other conditions. We show that in t he presence of FWM, spin polarization can enhance Andreev reflection and gi ve rise to a zero-bias conductance peak for an s-wave superconductor. This implies that the extraction of spin polarization from measurements in F/S s tructures requires careful analysis. We consider both d- and s-wave superco nductors as well as mixed states of the d+is form and find that mixed state s can have a different signature.