Toward the Absolute Spin-Valve Effect in Superconducting Tunnel Junctions.

De Simoni, Giorgio; Strambini, Elia; Moodera, Jagadeesh S; Bergeret, F Sebastian; Giazotto, Francesco · Nano Lett · 2018

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

A superconductor with a spin-split excitation spectrum behaves as an ideal ferromagnetic spin-injector in a tunneling junction. It was theoretically predicted that the combination of two such spin-split superconductors with independently tunable magnetizations may be used as an ideal absolute spin-valve. Here, we report on the first switchable superconducting spin-valve based on two EuS/Al bilayers coupled through an aluminum oxide tunnel barrier. The spin-valve shows a relative resistance change between the parallel and antiparallel configuration of the EuS layers up to 900% that demonstrates a highly spin-polarized current through the junction. Our device may be pivotal for realization of thermoelectric radiation detectors, a logical element for a memory cell in cryogenics, superconductor-based computers, and superconducting spintronics in general.