Abstract
We have previously shown that a ferromagnet-superconductor heterostructure may possess a spontaneous current circulation parallel to the interface. This current is caused by Andreev bound states in the thin ferromagnetic layer, and can be fully spin-polarized. Here we investigate the total energy of the system in cases where the current either does or does not flow. We show that the current is a true quantum ground state effect, and examine the effect of the current on the different contributions to the total energy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 7-10 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Physica C: Superconductivity and its Applications |
Volume | 437-38 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 May 2006 |
Event | 4th International Conferene on Vortex Matter in Nanostructured Superconductors (VORTEX IV) - Iraklion, Greece Duration: 3 Sept 2005 → 9 Sept 2005 |
Keywords
- proximity effect
- superconductor-ferromagnet interface
- NANOSTRUCTURES
- HYBRIDS