Proximity effect in the finite and incommensurate ferromagnet/superconductor systems

The original theory of a proximity effect is proposed for the bi- and tri-layered system ferromagnetic metal/superconductor (F/S) in dirty limit. The F1/S/F2 trilayer is examined more closely. The distinctions in materials, in thicknesses of F layers (df1 and df2), in parameters interfaces, and in local environments of layers are considered among the causes of incommensurability of trilayer. The peculiar Tc(df1, df2) interference pattern is predicted for the F1/S/F2 systems. The reentrant superconductivity and possibility of the better observability of the spin-valve regime are discussed. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved