Influence of spin-polarized current on superconductivity and the realization of large magnetoresistance

The superconducting state can be influenced by injecting spin-polarized current in a controlled manner by properly tailoring the interfacial transmittivity between a ferromagnet (F) and a superconductor (S), resulting in a large magnetoresistance of over 1100% for a F/I/S/I/F multilayer system (I insulator). Because of the competition between ferromagnetism and superconductivity, the superconducting transition temperature (T-C) in the spin-parallel configuration is shifted below that in the spin antiparallel configuration. The T-C shift is attributed to ferromagnet-induced nonequilibrium spin carriers in the superconductors.