Model calculations of the proximity effect in finite multilayers

The proximity-effect theory developed by Takahashi and Tachiki for infinite superconductor/normal (S/N) multilayers is applied to multilayer systems w ith a finite number of layers in the growth direction. The purpose is to in vestigate why previous applications to infinite multilayers fail to describ e the measured data satisfactorily. It is shown that surface superconductiv ity may appear, depending on the thickness of the covering normal metallic layers, on both the top and the bottom. Most of the parameters used refer t o the V/Ag system, but systems in which the N metal is also a superconducto r are considered as well. The nucleation process is studied as a function o f the system parameters, including the transparency of the S/N interface. ( C) 2001 Academic Press.