We show that Rashba spin-orbit coupling at the interface between a superconductor and a ferromagnet should produce a spontaneous current in the atomic thickness region near the interface. This current… Click to show full abstract
We show that Rashba spin-orbit coupling at the interface between a superconductor and a ferromagnet should produce a spontaneous current in the atomic thickness region near the interface. This current is counterbalanced by the superconducting screening current flowing in the region of the width of the London penetration depth near the interface. Such a current-carrying state creates a magnetic field near the superconductor surface, generates a stray magnetic field outside the sample edges, changes the slope of the temperature dependence of the critical field H_{c3}, and may generate the spontaneous Abrikosov vortices near the interface.
Journal Title: Physical review letters
Year Published: 2017
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