We explain the basic physics behind oscillatory effects in superconductor/metallic ferromagnet (S/F) sandwiches, and describe the important effects of the spin orbit scattering in these systems. We find that spin-orbit scattering plays a major role in the physics of the superconducting proximity effect with a conducting ferromagnet. As examples, we present calculations of the ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ of an S/F bilayer and the Josephson current (near ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{c}}$) of an S/F/S trilayer.

• Received 12 September 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.55.15174