Creation of equal-spin triplet superconductivity at the Al/EuS interface

S. Diesch, P. Machon, M. Wolz, C. Sürgers, D. Beckmann, W. Belzig () and E. Scheer ()
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S. Diesch: University of Konstanz
P. Machon: University of Konstanz
M. Wolz: University of Konstanz
C. Sürgers: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
D. Beckmann: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
W. Belzig: University of Konstanz
E. Scheer: University of Konstanz

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract In conventional superconductors, electrons of opposite spins are bound into Cooper pairs. However, when the superconductor is in contact with a non-uniformly ordered ferromagnet, an exotic type of superconductivity can appear at the interface, with electrons bound into three possible spin-triplet states. Triplet pairs with equal spin play a vital role in low-dissipation spintronics. Despite the observation of supercurrents through ferromagnets, spectroscopic evidence for the existence of equal-spin triplet pairs is still missing. Here we show a theoretical model that reveals a characteristic gap structure in the quasiparticle density of states which provides a unique signature for the presence of equal-spin triplet pairs. By scanning tunnelling spectroscopy we measure the local density of states to reveal the spin configuration of triplet pairs. We demonstrate that the Al/EuS interface causes strong and tunable spin-mixing by virtue of its spin-dependent transmission.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07597-w

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