Transition temperatures of superconductor-ferromagnet superlattices

Abstract

The transition temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ of superconductor-ferromagnet superlattices is calculated by solving exactly the Usadel equations. Characteristic ground-state configurations are predicted with nontrivial phase difference 0cphi≤π between neighboring superconducting layers. An unusual oscillatory dependence of ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ on the ferromagnetic-layer thickness is obtained. For short-period superlattices it is found that the transition changes from second to first order. A comparison of theoretical results with experimental data for V/Fe superlattices is given.