Spin-orbit driven superconducting proximity effects in Pt/Nb thin films
Machiel Flokstra1, Rhea Stewart1,2, Chi-Ming Yim1,3
1School of Physics and Astronomy, SUPA, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK.
Abstract:
Manipulating the spin state of thin layers of superconducting material is a promising route to generate dissipationless spin currents in spintronic devices. Approaches typically focus on using thin ferromagnetic elements to perturb the spin state of the superconducting condensate to create spin-triplet correlations. We have investigated simple structures that generate spin-triplet correlations without using ferromagnetic elements. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy and muon-spin rotation are used to probe the local electronic and magnetic properties of our hybrid structures, demonstrating a paramagnetic contribution to the magnetization that partially cancels the Meissner screening. This spin-orbit generated magnetization is shown to derive from the spin of the equal-spin pairs rather than from their orbital motion and is an important development in the field of superconducting spintronics.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview
Types Of Superconductors
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Population Distribution
NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
Spin–Spin Coupling Constant: Overview
Qualitatively, any spin plus-half nucleus polarizes the spins of its electrons to the minus-half state. Consequently, the paired electron in the hydrogen–carbon bond must...
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes


