1206.1220 (Ya-Fen Hsu et al.)

Effect of transport-induced charge inhomogeneity on point-contact
Andreev reflection spectra at ferromagnet-superconductor interfaces    [PDF]

Ya-Fen Hsu, Tian-Wei Chiang, Guang-Yu Guo, Shang-Fan Lee, Jun-Jih Liang

We investigate the transport properties of a ferromagnet-superconductor interface within the framework of a modified three-dimensional Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk formalism. In particular, we propose that charge inhomogeneity forms via two unique transport mechanisms, namely, evanescent Andreev reflection and evanescent quasiparticle transmission. Furthermore, we take into account the influence of charge inhomogeneity on the interfacial barrier potential and calculate the conductance as a function of bias voltage. Point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) spectra often show dip structures, large zero-bias conductance enhancement, and additional zero-bias conductance peak. Our results indicate that transport-induced charge inhomogeneity could be a source of all these anomalous characteristics of the PCAR spectra.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.1220