Mesoscopic circuits with spin-active interfaces

International audienceUpon scattering on the interface between a ferromagnetic material and a non-magnetic conductor, electrons with spin up and down can acquire different phase shifts because they are affected by different scattering potentials. The resulting Spin Dependence of Interfacial Phase Shifts (SDIPS) is a very general concept which can affect the behavior of many different types of mesoscopic hybrid circuits. In this talk, I will present the effects of the SDIPS on superconducting/ferromagnetic diffusive circuits, superconducting/ferromagnetic quantum point contacts, ballistic non-interacting wires, and quantum dots. I will present an interpretation of some recent experiments with the SDIPS concept