2008/08/03 by A. Buzdin · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.supr-con
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.101.107005
arxiv created 2008/08/03 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
We study the proximity effect between conventional superconductor and magnetic normal metal with a spin-orbit interaction of the Rashba type. Using the phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory and the quasiclassical Eilenberger approach it is demonstrated that the Josephson junction with such a metal as a weak link has a special non-sinusoidal current-phase relation. The ground state of this junction is caracterized by the finite phase difference Phi, which is proportional to the strength of the spin-orbit interaction and the exchange field in the normal metal. The proposed mechanism of the Phi junction formation gives a direct coupling between the superconducting current and the magnetic moment in the weak link. Therefore the Phi junctions open interesting perspectives for the superconducting spintronics.