title: Optimization of spin-triplet supercurrent in ferromagnetic Josephson junctions.
abstract: We have observed long-range spin-triplet supercurrents in Josephson junctions containing ferromagnetic (F) materials, which are generated by noncollinear magnetizations between a central Co/Ru/Co synthetic antiferromagnet and two outer thin F layers. Here we show that the spin-triplet supercurrent is enhanced up to 20 times after our samples are subject to a large in-plane field. This occurs because the synthetic antiferromagnet undergoes a "spin-flop" transition, whereby the two Co layer magnetizations end up nearly perpendicular to the magnetizations of the two thin F layers. We report direct experimental evidence for the spin-flop transition from scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis and from spin-polarized neutron reflectometry. These results represent a first step toward experimental control of spin-triplet supercurrents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-2320, USA.
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klose
authors.forename: Trupti S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Khaire
authors.forename: Yixing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: Norman O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Birge
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McMorran
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ginley
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Borchers
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Maranville
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unguris