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Phys. Rev. B 81, 054522 (2010) [8 pages]

Magnetic interference patterns in 0-π superconductor/insulator/ferromagnet/superconductor Josephson junctions: Effects of asymmetry between 0 and π regions

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M. Kemmler1,*, M. Weides2,†, M. Weiler3, M. Opel3, S. T. B. Goennenwein3, A. S. Vasenko4, A. A. Golubov5, H. Kohlstedt6, D. Koelle1, R. Kleiner1, and E. Goldobin1
1Physikalisches Institut–Experimentalphysik II and Center for Collective Quantum Phenomena, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 14, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
2Institute of Solid State Research and JARA–Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, Research Centre Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
3Walther-Meissner-Institut, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, D-85748 Garching, Germany
4LPMMC, Université Joseph Fourier and CNRS, 25 Avenue des Martyrs, BP 166, 38042 Grenoble, France
5Faculty of Science and Technology and MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
6Nanoelektronik, Technische Fakultät, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D-24143 Kiel, Germany

Received 27 October 2009; revised 4 February 2010; published 26 February 2010

We present a detailed analysis of the dependence of the critical current Ic on an in-plane magnetic field B of 0, π, and 0-π superconductor-insulator-ferromagnet-superconductor Josephson junctions. Ic(B) of the 0 and the π junction closely follows a Fraunhofer pattern, indicating a homogeneous critical current density jc(x). The maximum of Ic(B) is slightly shifted along the field axis, pointing to a small remanent in-plane magnetization of the F-layer along the field axis. Ic(B) of the 0-π junction exhibits the characteristic central minimum. Ic, however, has a finite value here, due to an asymmetry of jc in the 0 and the π part. In addition, this Ic(B) exhibits asymmetric maxima and bumped minima. To explain these features in detail, flux penetration being different in the 0 part and the π part needs to be taken into account. We discuss this asymmetry in relation to the magnetic properties of the F-layer and the fabrication technique used to produce the 0-π junctions.

© 2010 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.054522
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevB.81.054522
PACS:
74.50.+r, 74.78.Fk, 85.25.Cp

*kemmler@pit.physik.uni-tuebingen.de

†Present address: Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.

 
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