arXiv subjects

Jan Aarts

Publications and source records attributed to Jan Aarts.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Long range proximity effects in planar structures involving the halfmetal ferromagnet La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and Pt interlayers

Over the last decade, there has been steady research on superconducting junctions with a ferromagnet as the weak link, and where triplet correlations can transport supercurrents over a substantial distances. Of particular interest are halfmetallic ferromagnets, in which only one spin band is present, so that, presumably, the induced supercurrent is fully spin-polarized. We have earlier reported on a study of triplet transport in planar La0.7Sr0.3MnO3(LSMO) nanostrip Josephson junctions with NbTi superconducting contacts, where we found high values for the supercurrents, and large junction lengths (up to 1.3 {\mu}m). Here, we extend that work by studying the dependence of the critical current Ic on the length of the nanostrip between the contacts and the width of the strip. All junctions show strong supercurrents, but we do not observe simple systematics. Apparently, the fabrication process does not allow sufficient control over some of its parameters. To gain more insight in the mechanism for triplet generation at the LSMO/NbTi interface, we also studied the effect of Pt as an interlayer between the LSMO and the NbTi. For this, we etched a NbTi/Pt electrode structure on a full film of LSMO. The results are highly promising, showing sharp superconducting transitions and zero-resistance states being reached at an electrode distance of 2 {\mu}m, with indications that larger distances should be feasible.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Emergent Zeeman-Resilient Superconductivity Beyond the Spin-Paramagnetic Limit in Ultrathin NiBi3

The spin-paramagnetic limit sets a fundamental magnetic-field bound for conventional superconductors. Here we show that ultrathin NiBi$_3$ films develop a highly field-resilient superconducting state, with in-plane critical fields surpassing the spin-paramagnetic limit even above 0.9T$_C$. This enhancement is activated by dimensional confinement and depends sensitively on film thickness and morphology. Standard mechanisms, including strong spin-orbit coupling and multiband superconductivity, fail to quantitatively explain the observed robustness. These findings uncover an unconventional pathway for Zeeman-resistant superconductivity in low-dimensional materials beyond known Ising and Rashba scenarios, and further support earlier theoretical predictions of triplet pairing in low-dimensional NiBi$_3$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Time-reversal symmetry breaking in microscopic single-crystal Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ devices

Time-reversal symmetry breaking superconductivity is a quintessential unconventional quantum state. In Josephson junctions, time-reversal symmetry breaking manifests itself in the supercurrent interference pattern as the invariance of the critical current under the reversal of both transport and magnetic field directions, i.e., $I_\text{c+}(H) = I_\text{c-}(-H)$. So far, such systems have been realized in devices where superconductivity is injected into a deliberately constructed weak link medium, usually carefully tuned by external magnetic fields and electrostatic gating. In this work, we report time-reversal symmetry breaking in spontaneously emerging Josephson junctions without intentionally constructed weak links. This is realized in ultra-pure single-crystal microstructures of Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, an unconventional superconductor with a multi-component order parameter. Here, the Josephson effect emerges intrinsically at the superconducting domain wall, where the degenerate states partially overlap. In addition to violating $I_\text{c+}(H) = I_\text{c-}(-H)$, we find a rich variety of exotic transport phenomena, including a supercurrent diode effect present in the entire interference pattern, two-channel critical current oscillations with a period that deviates from $\Phi_0$, fractional Shapiro steps, and current-switchable bistable states with highly asymmetric critical currents. Our findings provide direct evidence of TRSB in unstrained Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ and reveal the potential of domain wall Josephson junctions, which can emerge in any superconductor where the pairing symmetry is described by a multi-component order parameter.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Recombination of localized quasiparticles in disordered superconductors

Disordered superconductors offer new impedance regimes for quantum circuits, enable a pathway to protected qubits, and can improve superconducting detectors due to their high kinetic inductance and sheet resistance. The performance of these devices can be limited, however, by quasiparticles - the fundamental excitations of a superconductor. While experiments have shown that disorder affects the relaxation of quasiparticles drastically, the microscopic mechanisms are still not understood. We address this issue by measuring quasiparticle relaxation in a disordered $\beta$-Ta film, which we pattern as the inductor of a microwave resonator. We observe that quasiparticle recombination is governed by the phonon scattering time, which is faster than conventional recombination in ordered superconductors. We interpret the results as recombination of localized quasiparticles, induced by disorder, which first delocalize via phonon absorption. We analyze quasiparticle relaxation measurements on superconductors with different degrees of disorder and conclude that this phenomenon is inherent to disordered superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Fabrication of planar halfmetallic ferromagnetic Josephson junctions with long range coupling

Superconducting junctions with a ferromagnet as the weak link, where triplet correlations can transport supercurrents over a substantial distance, have been of long-standing interest. In this work, we study the triplet transport in planar La$_{0.7}$Sr$_{0.3}$MnO$_3$ (LSMO) nanowire Josephson junctions with NbTi superconducting contacts. By meticulous ion etching with an artificial Pt hard mask, the NbTi/LSMO bilayer is structured to form an LSMO bridge without damaging its top layer. We observe superconducting (critical) currents of the order of 10$^{9}$ A/m$^2$ in a junction with a length of 1.3 $\mu$m, and distinguishing superconducting quantum interference (SQI) patterns when sweeping a magnetic field perpendicular ($B_\perp$) to the plane of the wire or parallel ($B_\parallel$) to the plane and along the wire. The observed Gaussian-shaped SQI pattern is attributed to the diffusive transport of triplet pairs in the LSMO. Our work demonstrates that combinations of oxide magnets with conventional ($s$-wave) alloy superconductors can be a promising new route to realizing superconducting spintronics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Triplet supercurrents in lateral Josephson junctions with a half-metallic ferromagnet

In the area of superconducting spintronics, spin triplet supercurrents in half-metallic ferromagnets (HMFs) could yield dissipationless spin transport over large distances, and high current density. Promising among the HMFs is the perovskite oxide La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO), and recent studies in combination with the high-Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3O7, or the conventional superconductor NbTi, showed long range effects. Here we focus on two issues that as yet received less attention: the value of the critical current in the HMF in the limit of a very small electrode distance (20 nm), and the nature of the spin triplet generator. We use lateral junctions shaped as bar, square, and disk, and find high supercurrent densities, of order 10^11 A/m2, pointing to an efficient triplet generation mechanism. This is surprising in the sense that no magnetic inhomogeneity is purposely built in, as is done in conventional metal triplet junctions. Furthermore, from the magnetic field dependence of the critical current interference patterns we find a uniform supercurrent distribution in bar-shaped devices, but one more constricted to the rim in disk devices, which is an expected consequence of the geometry. We also analyze the temperature dependence of the critical current and find the quadratic dependence that was predicted in the limit of small junction lengths. From studying the NbTi/LSMO interface with scanning electron transmission microscopy, we conclude that the magnetic inhomogeneity required for triplet generation resides in the LSMO layer adjacent to the interface.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

The unusual distribution of spin-triplet supercurrents in disk-shaped Josephson junctions

The phenomenon of s-wave spin triplet Cooper pairs induced in ferromagnetic metals has been researched now for more than a decade, and its main aspects are well understood. Crucial in converting s-wave singlet pairs in the superconductor to s-wave triplets in the ferromagnet is the engineering of well-defined magnetic inhomogeneity (the 'generator') at the interface with the superconductor. Vertical layer stacks are typically used as such, where two separate thin ferromagnetic layers with homogeneous but non-collinear magnetizations, provide the inhomogeneity. Alternatively, magnetic textures, like ferromagnetic domain walls and vortices, are possible triplet generators, although they are far less studied. In this paper we review our experiments on lateral disk-shaped Josephson junctions where a ferromagnetic bottom layer provides a weak link with a vortex magnetization imposed by the shape of the disk. We present three different junction configurations, exhibiting their own generator mechanism. In the first, we utilize the non-collinearity with a second ferromagnetic layer to produce the triplet correlations. The second configuration consists of only the bottom ferromagnet and the superconducting contacts; it relies on the vortex magnetization itself to generate the spin-polarized supercurrents. In the third case we exploit an intrinsic generator by combining a conventional superconductor (NbTi) and a half-metallic ferromagnetic oxide (La$_{0.7}$Sr$_{0.3}$MnO$_3$). We find strong supercurrents in all cases. A particularly interesting finding is that the supercurrents are strongly confined at the rims of the device, independent of the generating mechanism, but directly related to their triplet nature. What causes these rim currents remains an open question.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Beyond the effective length: How to analyze magnetic interference patterns of thin-film planar Josephson junctions with finite lateral dimensions

The magnetic field dependent critical current $I_{\text{c}}(B)$ of a Josephson junction is determined by the screening currents in its electrodes. In macroscopic junctions, a local vector potential drives the currents, however, in thin film planar junctions, with electrodes of finite size and various shapes, they are governed by non-local electrodynamics. This complicates the extraction of parameters such as the geometry of the effective junction area, the effective junction length and, the critical current density distribution from the $I_{\text{c}}(B)$ interference patterns. Here we provide a method to tackle this problem by simulating the phase differences that drive the shielding currents and use those to find $I_{\text{c}}(B)$. To this end, we extend the technique proposed by John Clem [Phys. Rev. B, \textbf{81}, 144515 (2010)] to find $I_{\text{c}}(B)$ for Josephson junctions separating a superconducting strip of length $L$ and width $W$ with rectangular, ellipsoid and rhomboid geometries. We find the periodicity of the interference pattern ($\Delta B$) to have geometry independent limits for $L \gg W$ and $L \ll W$. By fabricating elliptically shaped S$-$N$-$S junctions with various aspect ratios, we experimentally verify the $L/W$ dependence of $\Delta B$. Finally, we incorporate these results to correctly extract the distribution of critical currents in the junction by the Fourier analysis of $I_{\text{c}}(B)$, which makes these results essential for the correct analysis of topological channels in thin film planar Josephson junctions.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Mesoscopic superconducting memory based on bistable magnetic textures

With the ever-increasing energy need to process big data, the realization of low-power computing technologies, such as superconducting logic and memories, has become a pressing issue. Developing fast and non-volatile superconducting memory elements, however, remains a challenge. Superconductor-ferromagnet hybrid devices offer a promising solution, as they combine ultra-fast manipulation of spins with dissipationless readout. Here, we present a new type of non-volatile Josephson junction memory that utilizes the bistable magnetic texture of a single mesoscopic ferromagnet. We use micromagnetic simulations to design an ellipse-shaped planar junction structured from a Nb/Co bilayer. The ellipse can be prepared as uniformly magnetized or as a pair of vortices at zero applied field. The two states yield considerably different critical currents, enabling reliable electrical readout of the element. We describe the mechanism used to control the critical current by applying numerical calculations to quantify the local stray field from the ferromagnet, which shifts the superconducting interference pattern. By combining micromagnetic modeling with bistable spin-textured junctions, our approach presents a novel route towards realizing superconducting memory applications.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Universal size-dependent nonlinear charge transport in single crystals of the Mott insulator Ca$_2$RuO$_4$

The surprisingly low current density required for inducing the insulator to metal transition has made Ca$_2$RuO$_4$ an attractive candidate material for developing Mott-based electronics devices. The mechanism driving the resistive switching, however, remains a controversial topic in the field of strongly correlated electron systems. Here we probe an uncovered region of phase space by studying high-purity Ca$_2$RuO$_4$ single crystals, using the sample size as principal tuning parameter. Upon reducing the crystal size, we find a four orders of magnitude increase in the current density required for driving Ca$_2$RuO$_4$ out of the insulating state into a non-equilibrium (also called metastable) phase which is the precursor to the fully metallic phase. By integrating a microscopic platinum thermometer and performing thermal simulations, we gain insight into the local temperature during simultaneous application of current and establish that the size dependence is not a result of Joule heating. The findings suggest an inhomogeneous current distribution in the nominally homogeneous crystal. Our study calls for a reexamination of the interplay between sample size, charge current, and temperature in driving Ca$_2$RuO$_4$ towards the Mott insulator to metal transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Superconducting triplet rim currents in a spin-textured ferromagnetic disk

Since the discovery of the long-range superconducting proximity effect, the interaction between spin-triplet Cooper pairs and magnetic structures such as domain walls and vortices has been the subject of intense theoretical discussions, while the relevant experiments remain scarce. We have developed nanostructured Josephson junctions with highly controllable spin texture, based on a disk-shaped Nb/Co bilayer. Here, the vortex magnetization of Co and the Cooper pairs of Nb conspire to induce long-range triplet (LRT) superconductivity in the ferromagnet. Surprisingly, the LRT correlations emerge in highly localized (sub-80 nm) channels at the rim of the ferromagnet, despite its trivial band structure. We show that these robust rim currents arise from the magnetization texture acting as an effective spin-orbit coupling, which results in spin accumulation at the bilayer-vacuum boundary. Lastly, we demonstrate that by altering the spin texture of a single ferromagnet, both $0$ and $\pi$-channels can be realized in the same device.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Imaging spin-wave damping underneath metals using electron spins in diamond

Spin waves in magnetic insulators are low-damping signal carriers that could enable a new generation of spintronic devices. The excitation, control, and detection of spin waves by metal electrodes is crucial for interfacing these devices to electrical circuits. It is therefore important to understand metal-induced damping of spin-wave transport, but characterizing this process requires access to the underlying magnetic films. Here we show that spins in diamond enable imaging of spin waves that propagate underneath metals in magnetic insulators, and then use this capability to reveal a 100-fold increase in spin-wave damping. By analyzing spin-wave-induced currents in the metal, we derive an effective damping parameter that matches these observations well. We furthermore detect buried scattering centers, highlighting the technique's power for assessing spintronic device quality. Our results open new avenues for studying metal - spin-wave interaction and provide access to interfacial processes such as spin-wave injection via the spin-Hall effect.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Magnetic resonance imaging of spin-wave transport and interference in a magnetic insulator

Spin waves - the elementary excitations of magnetic materials - are prime candidate signal carriers for low dissipation information processing. Being able to image coherent spin-wave transport is crucial for developing interference-based spin-wave devices. We introduce a platform for probing coherent spin waves based on magnetic resonance imaging with electron spins in diamond. Focusing on a thin-film magnetic insulator, we quantify spin-wave amplitudes, visualize the dispersion, and demonstrate time-domain measurements of spin-wave packets. We use our platform to study spin-wave interference, revealing uni-directional, autofocused spin-wave patterns with frequency-controlled numerical apertures. A theoretical analysis explains the patterns in terms of chiral spin-wave excitation and stray-field coupling to the sensor spins. These results pave the way for probing spin waves in atomically thin magnets, even when embedded between opaque materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Spontaneous emergence of Josephson junctions in homogeneous rings of single-crystal Sr2RuO4

The chiral p-wave order parameter in Sr$_\mathsf{2}$RuO$_\mathsf{4}$ would make it a special case amongst the unconventional superconductors. A consequence of this symmetry is the possible existence of superconducting domains of opposite chirality. At the boundary of such domains, the locally supressed condensate can produce an intrinsic Josephson junction. Here, we provide evidence of such junctions using mesoscopic rings, structured from Sr$_\mathsf{2}$RuO$_\mathsf{4}$ single crystals. Our order parameter simulations predict such rings to host stable domain walls across their arms. Thisis verified with transport experiments on loops, with a sharp transition at 1.5 K, which show distinct critical current oscillations with periodicity corresponding to the flux quantum. In contrast, loops with broadened transitions at around 3 K are void of such junctions and show standard Little-Parks oscillations. Our analysis demonstrates the junctions are of intrinsic origin and makes a compelling case for the existence of superconducting domains.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Growing a LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructure on Ca2Nb3O10 nanosheets

The two-dimensional electron liquid which forms between the band insulators LaAlO3 (LAO) and SrTiO3 (STO) is a promising component for oxide electronics, but the requirement of using single crystal SrTiO3 substrates for the growth limits its applications in terms of device fabrication. It is therefore important to find ways to deposit these materials on other substrates, preferably Si, or Si-based, in order to facilitate integration with existing technology. Interesting candidates are micron-sized nanosheets of Ca2Nb3O10 which can be used as seed layers for perovskite materials on any substrate. We have used low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) with in-situ pulsed laser deposition to study the subsequent growth of STO and LAO on such flakes which were deposited on Si. We can follow the morphology and crystallinity of the layers during growth, as well as fingerprint their electronic properties with angle resolved reflected electron spectroscopy. We find that STO layers, deposited on the nanosheets, can be made crystalline and flat; that LAO can be grown in a layer-by-layer fashion; and that the full heterostructure shows the signature of the formation of a conducting interface.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Tunable magnetic interactions in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures by ionic liquid gating

The gating effect achieved by an ionic liquid and its electric double layer allows for charge transfer which can be an order of magnitude larger than with conventional dielectrics. However, the large charged ions also causes inevitable Coulomb scattering in the conducting channel formed at the interface, which can limit the carrier mobility enhancement. In this work, we study the effect of the LaAlO3 thickness on the transport properties in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures by ionic liquid gating. We find that the transport properties of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface are dominated by the intrinsic interactions rather than the LaAlO3 thickness and possible effects from the ions in the liquid. We observe a Kondo effect, which is enhanced while increasing the gate voltage. We also observe a gate-tunable and temperature-dependent anomalous Hall effect, which always emerges near the Kondo temperature. Our experiments pave the way to manipulate the various magnetic interactions in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Tuning Rashba spin-orbit coupling at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces by band filling

The electric-field tunable Rashba spin-orbit coupling at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface shows potential applications in spintronic devices. However, different gate dependence of the coupling strength has been reported in experiments. On the theoretical side, it has been predicted that the largest Rashba effect appears at the crossing point of the $d_{xy}$ and $d_{xz,yz}$ bands. In this work, we study the tuneability of the Rashba effect in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 by means of back-gating. The Lifshitz transition was crossed multiple times by tuning the gate voltage so that the Fermi energy is tuned to approach or depart from the band crossing. By analyzing the weak antilocalization behavior in the magnetoresistance, we find that the maximum spin-orbit coupling effect occurs when the Fermi energy is near the Lifshitz point. Moreover, we find strong evidence for a single spin winding at the Fermi surface.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

New insights into the electron trapping mechanism in LaAlO_3 / SrTiO3 heterostructures

In LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures, a commonly observed but poorly understood phenomenon is that of electron trapping in back-gating experiments. In this work, by combining magnetotransport measurements and self-consistent Schroedinger-Poisson calculations, we obtain an empirical relation between the amount of trapped electrons and the gate voltage. We find that the trapped electrons follow an exponentially decaying spatial distribution away from the interface. However, contrary to earlier observations, we find that the Fermi level remains well within the quantum well. The enhanced trapping of electrons induced by the gate voltage can therefore not be explained by a thermal escape mechanism. Further gate sweeping experiments strengthen our conclusion that the thermal escape mechanism is not valid. We propose a new mechanism which involves the electromigration and clustering of oxygen vacancies in SrTiO3. Our work indicates that electron trapping is a universal phenomenon in SrTiO3-based two-dimensional electron systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗