Experimental verification of contact-size estimates in point-contact spectroscopy on superconductor/ferromagnet heterocontacts

Abstract

Nanostructured superconductor/ferromagnet heterocontacts are studied in the different transport regimes of point-contact spectroscopy. Direct measurements of the nanocontact size by scanning electron microscopy allow a comparison with theoretical models for contact-size estimates of heterocontacts. Our experimental data give evidence that size estimates yield reasonable values for the point-contact diameter $d$ as long as the samples are carefully characterized with respect to the local electronic parameters.

19 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review B