Supercurrents through half-metallic ferromagnetic CrO${}_2$ revisited

Abstract

We report on the observation of a supercurrent through the half metallic ferromagnet CrO${}_2$ grown on hexagonal Al${}_2$O${}_3$ (sapphire). The current was observed to flow over a distance of 700 nm between two superconducting amorphous Mo${}_{70}$Ge${}_{30}$ electrodes which were deposited on the CrO${}_2$ film. The critical current $I_c$ increases as function of decreasing temperature. Upon applying an in-plane magnetic field, $I_c$ goes through a maximum at the rather high field of 80 mT. We believe this to be a long range proximity effect in the ferromagnet, carried by odd-frequency pairing correlations.

4 pages, 5 figures