https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050100
Superconducting and magnetic properties of Nb/Pd1-xFex/Nb triple layers
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Karlsruhe, 76128 Karlsruhe,
Germany
Received:
15
December
1998
Revised:
26
April
1999
Published online: 15 March 2000
The superconducting and magnetic properties
of Nb/Pd1-xFex/Nb triple layers
with constant Nb layer thickness
dNb = 200 Åand different interlayer thicknesses
3 Å≤dPdFe≤80 Åare investigated.
The thickness dependence of the magnetization and of the superconducting
transition temperature shows that for small iron concentration
x the Pd1-xFex layer
is likely to be in the paramagnetic state for very thin films
whereas ferromagnetic order is established
for x≥.
The parallel critical
field Bc2||(T) exhibits a transition
from two-dimensional (2D) behavior
where the Nb films are
coupled across the interlayer, towards a 2D behavior of
decoupled Nb films with increasing dPdFe and/or x.
This transition allows a determination of
the penetration depth 
of Cooper pairs into the
Pd1-xFex layer
as a function of x. For samples with a ferromagnetic interlayer
is found to be independent of x.
PACS: 74.50.+r – Proximity effects, weak links, tunneling phenomena, and Josephson effects / 74.80.Dm – Superconducting layer structures: superlattices, heterojunctions, and multilayers / 75.70.Ak – Magnetic properties of monolayers and thin films
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2000
