Spin Dynamics in a Superconductor-Ferromagnet Proximity System

Abstract

The ferromagnetic resonance of thin sputtered ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{80}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{20}$ films grown on Nb is measured. By varying the temperature and the thickness of the Nb the role of the superconductivity on the whole ferromagnetic layer in these heterostructures is explored. The change in the spin transport properties below the superconducting transition of the Nb is found to manifest itself in the ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{80}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{20}$ layer by a sharpening in the resonance of the ferromagnet, or a decrease in the effective Gilbert damping coefficient, showing that the superconductivity affects the macrospin of the ferromagnetic layer. We interpret this in terms of the spin-pumping model.