Weak localization correction to the FS interface resistance

Edward McCann, Vladimir. I. Fal'ko, A. F. Volkov, C. J. Lambert

Published 2000-04-10Version 1

The classical resistance of a contact between a ferromagnet (F) and a superconductor (S) acquires an additional contact term as compared to the contact between a ferromagnet and a normal metal. The necessity to match spin-polarized current in a ferromagnet to spin-less current in the superconductor results in the accumulation of non-equilibrium polarization near the F/S interface. In the present work, we show that the weak localization correction to the classical diffusion coefficient, $\delta D$, is dependent on the degree of polarization, with majority spins more likely to be reflected from the interface than minority spins. Taking into account the change in the spin polarized particle distribution in the F wire arising from $\delta D$, we calculate the weak localization correction to the F/S contact resistance.