Magnetic proximity effect in [Nb/Gd] superlattices seen by neutron scattering

Abstract

We have used spin-polarized neutron reflectometry to investigate the magnetization profile of superlattices composed of ferromagnetic Gd and superconducting Nb layers. We have observed a partial suppression of ferromagnetic (F) order of Gd layers in [Gd($d_F$)/Nb(25nm)]${}_{12}$ superlattices below the superconducting (S) transition of the Nb layers. The amplitude of the suppression decreases with increasing $d_F$. By analyzing the neutron spin asymmetry we conclude that the observed effect has an electromagnetic origin - the proximity-coupled S layers screen out the external magnetic field and thus suppress the F response of the Gd layers inside the structure. Our investigation demonstrates the considerable influence of electromagnetic effects on the magnetic properties of S/F systems.

References in corpus (3)

• Beyond Moore's technologies: operation principles of a superconductor alternative
• Evidence for spin-triplet superconducting correlations in metal-oxide heterostructures with non-collinear magnetization
• Magnetic proximity effects in V/Fe superconductor/ferromagnet single bilayer revealed by waveguide-enhanced polarized neutron reflectometry

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