Superconductors as spin sources for spintronics
Superconductors as spin sources for spintronics
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DOI:
10.1103/physrevb.77.132501
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发表时间:
2008-04-01
影响因子:
3.7
通讯作者:
Taddei, F.
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Giazotto, F.;Taddei, F.
Spin-polarized transport is investigated in normal metal-superconductor (NS) junctions as a function of interface transmissivity as well as temperature when the density of states of a superconductor is Zeeman-split in response to an exchange field (h(exc)). Similarly to the "absolute spin-valve effect" predicted by Huertas-Hernando [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 047003 (2002)] in superconducting proximity structures, we show that NS junctions can be used to generate highly spin-polarized currents, in alternative to half-metallic ferromagnets. In particular, the spin-polarized current obtained is largely tunable in magnitude and sign by acting on bias voltage and h(exc). While for tunnel contacts the current polarization can be as high as 100%, for transparent junctions it is dominated by the minority spin species. The effect can be enhanced by electron "cooling" provided by the superconducting gap.