Syntropic spin alignment at the interface between ferromagnetic and superconducting nitrides

The magnetic correlations at the superconductor/ferromagnet (S/F) interfaces play a crucial role in realizing dissipation-less spin-based logic and memory technologies, such as triplet-supercurrent spin-valves and "{\pi}" Josephson junctions. Here we report the coexistence of an induced large magnetic moment and a crypto ferromagnetic state at high-quality nitride S/F interfaces. Using polarized neutron reflectometry and d. c. SQUID measurements, we quantitatively determined the magnetization profile of S/F bilayer and confirmed the induced magnetic moment in the adjacent superconductor only exists below TC. Interestingly, the direction of the induced moment in the superconductors was unexpectedly parallel to that in the ferromagnet, which contrasts with earlier findings in S/F heterostructures based on metals or oxides. The first-principles calculations verify the observed unusual interfacial spin texture is caused by the Heisenberg direct exchange coupling through d orbital overlapping and severe charge transfer across the interfaces. Our work establishes an incisive experimental probe for understanding the magnetic proximity behavior at S/F interfaces and provides a prototype epitaxial building block for superconducting spintronics.
Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, supplementary file with 14 figures