Spin injection and the interfacial conductance of ferromagnet–superconductor oxide heterostructures

Bilayers of epitaxially compatible superconducting DyBa2Cu3O7−x (DBCO) and ferromagnetic La2/3Ba1/3MnO3 (LBMO) have been grown using molecular beam epitaxy. In contrast with other investigations there was no buffer layer separating the ferromagnetic and superconducting layers. Structures were patterned into mesas for vertical transport measurements. Electrical leads permitted simultaneous study of the interface conductance and the effect on superconductivity of carrier injection. Conductance measurements exhibited features consistent with several aspects of calculations of spin-polarized transport between ferromagnetic and superconducting layers.