Epitaxial contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy of NbN/Co2FeSi layered devices

Abstract

We investigated the spin polarization P of Co-based Heusler alloy Co2FeSi by epitaxial contact Andreev reflection (ECAR) spectroscopy using epitaxially grown superconductor NbN and Heusler alloy Co2FeSi layered devices. Ferromagnetic Co2FeSi possesses the highest Curie temperature (TC ≈ 1100 K) and the largest spontaneous magnetic moment (ps ≈ 6 μB) in the class of Heusler alloys. The ECAR measurements revealed that the P value of Co2FeSi was 54 ± 2% with a finite barrier parameter Z, indicating that an intrinsic P value in ECAR spectroscopy would exceed reported values in point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy. We therefore established not only the epitaxial integration of ferromagnetic Co2FeSi with superconductor NbN on an MgO substrate but also the fabrication and evaluation techniques of their ECAR devices. This highly versatile superconducting spintronic system enables fundamental superconducting spintronic studies, and it is also a candidate for practical superconducting spintronic devices.