Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy Measurements of Superconductor/Ferromagnet Hybrids

The focus of this thesis work is the study of the nanoscale electronic properties of magnetically coupled superconductor/ferromagnet hybrid structures using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (LT-STM/STS) under ultra-high vacuum conditions. There are a number of novel effects that can occur due to the non-homogenous magnetic field from the ferromagnet, which directly influence the global and local superconducting properties. These effects include the generation of vortices/anti-vortices by the non-uniform magnetic stray field, local modulations in the critical temperature, filamentary superconductivity close to the transition temperature, and superconducting channels that can be controlled by external magnetic fields. Prior to this dissertation the subject of superconductor/ferromagnet hybrid structures has been mainly studied using global measurements (such as transport and magnetization) or scanning probe techniques that are sensitive to the magnetic field. Scanning tunneling microscopy probes the local electronic density of states with atomic resolution, and therefore is the only technique that can study the emergence of superconductivity on the length scale of the coherence length. The novel results presented in this dissertation show that magnetically coupled superconductor/ferromagnet heterostructures offer the possibility to control and tune the strength and location of superconductivity and superconducting vortices, which has potential for promising technological breakthroughs in computing and power applications.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Moore, Steven Alan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Iavarone, Maria

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Iavarone, Maria
• Gray, Alexander X.
• Forster, Dieter, 1938-
• Novosad, Valentine

• Physics, Condensed matter

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

958157487

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/3296