arXiv · 2602.08766
Josephson diode and spin-valve effects on the surface of altermagnet CrSb
Abstract
We experimentally investigate charge transport in In-CrSb and In-CrSb-In proximity devices, which are formed as junctions between superconducting indium leads and thick single crystal flakes of altermagnet CrSb. For double In-CrSb-In junctions, $dV/dI(B)$ curves are mirrored in respect to zero field for two magnetic field sweep directions, which is characteristic behavior of a Josephson spin valve. Also, we demonstrate Josephson diode effect by direct measurement of the critical current for two opposite directions in external magnetic field. We interpret these observations as a joint effect of the spin-polarized topological surface states and the altermagnetic spin splitting of the bulk bands in CrSb. For a single In-CrSb interface, the superconducting gap oscillates in magnetic field for both field orientations, which strongly resembles the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) behavior. FFLO is based on finite-momentum Cooper pairing, therefore, it is fully compatible with the requirements for the Josephson diode effect.
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V. D. Esin, D. Yu. Kazmin, Yu. S. Barash, A. V. Timonina, N. N. Kolesnikov, E. V. Deviatov. 2026-02-09. Josephson diode and spin-valve effects on the surface of altermagnet CrSb. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0021364026600667
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