Observation of anomalous Meissner screening in Cu/Nb and Cu/Nb/Co thin films

M. G. Flokstra; R. Stewart; N. Satchell; G. Burnell; H. Luetkens; T. Prokscha; A. Suter; E. Morenzoni; S. Langridge; S. L. Lee

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.247001

Observation of anomalous Meissner screening in Cu/Nb and Cu/Nb/Co thin films

M. G. Flokstra^*
, R. Stewart
, N. Satchell
, G. Burnell
, H. Luetkens
, T. Prokscha
, A. Suter
, E. Morenzoni
, S. Langridge
, S. L. Lee

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We have observed the spatial distribution of magnetic flux in Nb, Cu/Nb, and Cu/Nb/Co thin films using muon-spin rotation. In an isolated 50-nm-thick Nb film, we find a weak flux expulsion (Meissner effect) which becomes significantly enhanced when adding an adjacent 40 nm layer of Cu. The added Cu layer exhibits a Meissner effect (due to induced superconducting pairs) and is at least as effective as the Nb to expel flux. These results are confirmed by theoretical calculations using the quasiclassical Green's function formalism. An unexpected further significant enhancement of the flux expulsion is observed when adding a thin (2.4 nm) ferromagnetic Co layer to the bottom side of the Nb. This observed cooperation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism, by an unknown mechanism, forms a key ingredient for developing superconducting spintronics.

Original language	English
Article number	247001
Number of pages	5
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	120
Issue number	24
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.247001
Publication status	Published - 14 Jun 2018

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PhysRevLett.120.247001
© 2018, American Physical Society. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the final published version of the work, which was originally published at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.247001
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Controlling Emergent Orders in Quantum: Controlling Emergent Orders in Quantum Materials
Wahl, P. (PI), Hooley, C. (CoI) & Lee, S. (CoI)
EPSRC
1/06/18 → 30/06/23
Project: Standard
CM DTC 2014 - 2022: EPSRC centre for doctoral training in condensed matter physics: Renewal of the CM-DTC
King, P. (PI)
EPSRC
1/08/14 → 31/01/24
Project: Standard
CM-DTC OTHER COSTS: EPSRC centre for doctoral training in condensed matter physics: Renewal of t
King, P. (PI)
1/08/14 → 31/01/24
Project: Standard

Steve Lee
- sl10st-andrews.acuk
Person: Academic

Data underpinning: Observation of Anomalous Meissner Screening in Cu=Nb and Cu=Nb=Co Thin Films
Flokstra, M. G. (Creator), Stewart, R. (Creator), Satchell, N. (Creator), Burnell, G. (Creator), Luetkens, H. (Creator), Prokscha, T. (Creator), Suter, A. (Creator), Morenzoni, E. (Creator), Langridge, S. (Creator) & Lee, S. L. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 1 Aug 2019
DOI: 10.17630/266d9265-f8e2-431b-8a98-d8e596d150a7
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A study of novel superconducting states in hybrid ferromagnetic-superconducting metamaterials and thin film devices
Stewart, R. (Author), Lee, S. (Supervisor), 3 Dec 2019
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis (PhD)

Cite this

@article{ec78099c4dbb4a9885b2ded5d011c9e3,

title = "Observation of anomalous Meissner screening in Cu/Nb and Cu/Nb/Co thin films",

abstract = "We have observed the spatial distribution of magnetic flux in Nb, Cu/Nb, and Cu/Nb/Co thin films using muon-spin rotation. In an isolated 50-nm-thick Nb film, we find a weak flux expulsion (Meissner effect) which becomes significantly enhanced when adding an adjacent 40 nm layer of Cu. The added Cu layer exhibits a Meissner effect (due to induced superconducting pairs) and is at least as effective as the Nb to expel flux. These results are confirmed by theoretical calculations using the quasiclassical Green's function formalism. An unexpected further significant enhancement of the flux expulsion is observed when adding a thin (2.4 nm) ferromagnetic Co layer to the bottom side of the Nb. This observed cooperation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism, by an unknown mechanism, forms a key ingredient for developing superconducting spintronics.",

author = "Flokstra, \{M. G.\} and R. Stewart and N. Satchell and G. Burnell and H. Luetkens and T. Prokscha and A. Suter and E. Morenzoni and S. Langridge and Lee, \{S. L.\}",

note = "We acknowledge the support of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through Grants No. EP/I031014/1, No. EP/J01060X/1, No. EP/J010634/1, No. EP/J010650/1, and No. EP/L015110/1.",

year = "2018",

month = jun,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.247001",

language = "English",

volume = "120",

journal = "Physical Review Letters",

issn = "0031-9007",

publisher = "American Physical Society",

number = "24",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Observation of anomalous Meissner screening in Cu/Nb and Cu/Nb/Co thin films

AU - Flokstra, M. G.

AU - Stewart, R.

AU - Satchell, N.

AU - Burnell, G.

AU - Luetkens, H.

AU - Prokscha, T.

AU - Suter, A.

AU - Morenzoni, E.

AU - Langridge, S.

AU - Lee, S. L.

N1 - We acknowledge the support of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through Grants No. EP/I031014/1, No. EP/J01060X/1, No. EP/J010634/1, No. EP/J010650/1, and No. EP/L015110/1.

PY - 2018/6/14

Y1 - 2018/6/14

N2 - We have observed the spatial distribution of magnetic flux in Nb, Cu/Nb, and Cu/Nb/Co thin films using muon-spin rotation. In an isolated 50-nm-thick Nb film, we find a weak flux expulsion (Meissner effect) which becomes significantly enhanced when adding an adjacent 40 nm layer of Cu. The added Cu layer exhibits a Meissner effect (due to induced superconducting pairs) and is at least as effective as the Nb to expel flux. These results are confirmed by theoretical calculations using the quasiclassical Green's function formalism. An unexpected further significant enhancement of the flux expulsion is observed when adding a thin (2.4 nm) ferromagnetic Co layer to the bottom side of the Nb. This observed cooperation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism, by an unknown mechanism, forms a key ingredient for developing superconducting spintronics.

AB - We have observed the spatial distribution of magnetic flux in Nb, Cu/Nb, and Cu/Nb/Co thin films using muon-spin rotation. In an isolated 50-nm-thick Nb film, we find a weak flux expulsion (Meissner effect) which becomes significantly enhanced when adding an adjacent 40 nm layer of Cu. The added Cu layer exhibits a Meissner effect (due to induced superconducting pairs) and is at least as effective as the Nb to expel flux. These results are confirmed by theoretical calculations using the quasiclassical Green's function formalism. An unexpected further significant enhancement of the flux expulsion is observed when adding a thin (2.4 nm) ferromagnetic Co layer to the bottom side of the Nb. This observed cooperation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism, by an unknown mechanism, forms a key ingredient for developing superconducting spintronics.

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.247001

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.247001

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85048602722

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 120

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

IS - 24

M1 - 247001

ER -

Observation of anomalous Meissner screening in Cu/Nb and Cu/Nb/Co thin films

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Controlling Emergent Orders in Quantum: Controlling Emergent Orders in Quantum Materials

CM DTC 2014 - 2022: EPSRC centre for doctoral training in condensed matter physics: Renewal of the CM-DTC

CM-DTC OTHER COSTS: EPSRC centre for doctoral training in condensed matter physics: Renewal of t

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Steve Lee

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Data underpinning: Observation of Anomalous Meissner Screening in Cu=Nb and Cu=Nb=Co Thin Films

Student theses

A study of novel superconducting states in hybrid ferromagnetic-superconducting metamaterials and thin film devices

Cite this