Superconducting Heterostructures Interlayered with a Material with Strong Spin–Orbit Interaction

Abstract—Superconducting heterostructures interlayered with a material with strong spin–orbit interaction are studied. As materials with strong spin–orbit interaction, we choose strontium iridates featuring the Ruddlesden–Popper structure (Srn + 1IrnO3n + 1; n = 1, 2, ∞): paramagnetic metal SrIrO3 and magnetic insulator Sr2IrO4. Using laser ablation, epitaxial films of these materials are obtained, as well as heterostructures based on epitaxial films of cuprate superconducting YBa2Cu3Ox. For electrical measurements, mesa-structures of micrometer sizes with top electrodes made of Au/Nb bilayer are fabricated.