Transport in multiterminal superconductor/ferromagnet junctions having spin-dependent interfaces

Kuei Sun, Nayana Shah, Smitha Vishveshwara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We study electronic transport in junctions consisting of a superconductor electrode and two ferromagnet (F) leads in which crossed Andreev reflections (CAR) and elastic cotunnelings are accommodated. We model the system using an extended Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk treatment with a key modification that accounts for spin-dependent interfacial barriers (SDIB). We compute current-voltage relations as a function of parameters characterizing the SDIB, magnetization in the F leads, geometry of the junction, and temperature. Our results reveal a rich range of significantly altered physics due to a combination of interfering spin-dependent scattering processes and population imbalance in the ferromagnets, such as a significant enhancement in CAR current and a sign change in the relative difference between resistance of two cases having a antiparallel or parallel alignment of the magnetization in the F leads, respectively. Our model accounts for the surprising experimental findings of positive relative resistance by M. Colci as well as previously measured negative relative resistance results, both within sufficiently large parameter regions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number054509
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume87
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 22 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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