Andreev reflection and spin polarization measurement of Co/YBCO junction

We report temperature dependent Andreev reflection measurements of Co/ Y$_{1}$Ba$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-\delta}$ (YBCO) heterostructure samples with junction areas of 1 $\mu$m diameter. Modelling of the 5-70 K conductivity data according to a modified Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk theory yields a spin polarization in Co film amounting to 34% which is almost constant up to 70 K. The YBCO films have been grown by pulsed laser deposition on sapphire substrates. The Co films are deposited by thermal evaporation on YBCO. The film is characterized by powder X-ray diffraction measurements which shows YBCO is grown in (001) direction.The critical current density, 5 x 10$^{6}$ A/cm$^{2}$, in YBCO remains nearly constant after deposition of Co at zero field and 77 K.
Comment: 19 pages including 6 figures, figures and text have been changed