Double proximity effect in lateral S-NF-S junctions

Abstract

We investigate planar Josephson junctions where the intermediate spacer between the two superconductors is an hybrid structure made by a normal metal and a ferromagnet. The different behaviors of the S-N-S junctions with thicknesses of 50 nm in both Cu and Nb layers, and S-N/F-S junctions with 10 nm of Co, 50 nm of Cu and 50 nm of Nb are studied. In this way, we analyze the influence of the ferromagnetic exchange interaction on the proximity effect. A dramatic supression of the josephson critical current of the Nb-(Cu/Co)-Nb junctions is observed. We believe that the reason for this is due to the length scale of the superconducting correlations of the electrons and holes of the weak link is larger than the thickness of Cu/Co bilayer.