Spin-polarisation measurement using NbN-insulator-ferromagnet tunnel junction with oxidized barrier

Abstract

We report a two-step process for the fabrication of superconductor-insulator-normal metal tunnel junctions using NbN as the superconducting electrode and its surface oxide as the insulating tunnel barrier, and investigate its efficacy in measuring spin-polarisation of ferromagnets using the Meservey-Tedrow technique. We observe that for NbN film thickness below 10 nm, under the application of parallel magnetic field, the superconducting density of states show clear “Zeeman” splitting into spin-up and spin-down sub-bands. Tunnelling measurements on devices where ferromagnetic Co is used as the normal electrode shows that these devices can be used to measure spin polarisation of a ferromagnet at temperatures up to 1.6 K. The simplicity of our fabrication process makes NbN a very attractive candidate for spin polarisation measurements. Some limitations of this process are also discussed.