Abstract
We studied the proximity effect between a superconductor (Nb) and a diluted ferromagnetic alloy (CuNi) in a bilayer geometry. We measured the local density of states on top of the ferromagnetic layer, where thickness varies on each sample, with a very low temperature scanning tunneling microscope. The measured spectra display a very high homogeneity. The analysis of the experimental data shows the need to take into account an additional scattering mechanism. By including in the Usadel equations the effect of the spin relaxation in the ferromagnetic alloy, we obtain a good description of the experimental data.
- Received 3 February 2005
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.024511
©2005 American Physical Society
