Eur. Phys. J. B (2018) 91: 190
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2018-80683-x

Regular Article

Characterizing a high spin magnetic impurity via Andreev reflection spectroscopy

School of Physical Sciences, National Institute of Science Education & Research, HBNI, Jatni 752050, India

^a e-mail: colin.nano@gmail.com

Received: 4 December 2017
Received in final form: 5 May 2018
Published online: 30 August 2018

Abstract

The ground state properties of a high spin magnetic impurity and its interaction with an electronic spin are probed via Andreev reflection. We see that through the charge and spin conductance one can effectively estimate the interaction strength, the ground state spin and magnetic moment of any high spin magnetic impurity. We show how a high spin magnetic impurity at the junction between a normal metal and superconductor can contribute to superconducting spintronics applications. Particularly, while spin conductance is absent below the gap for Ferromagnet-Insulator-Superconductor junctions we show that in the case of a Normal metal-High spin magnetic impurity-Normal Metal-Insulator-Superconductor (NMNIS) junction it is present. Further, it is seen that pure spin conduction can exist without any accompanying charge conduction in the NMNIS junction.