Observation of thermoelectric currents in high-field superconductor-ferromagnet tunnel junctions

Abstract

We report on the experimental observation of thermoelectric currents in superconductor-ferromagnet tunnel junctions in high magnetic fields. The thermoelectric signals are due to a spin-dependent lifting of particle-hole symmetry, and are found to be in excellent agreement with recent theoretical predictions. The maximum Seebeck coefficient inferred from the data is about $-100~\mathrm{\mu V/K}$, much larger than commonly found in metallic structures. Our results directly prove the coupling of spin and heat transport in high-field superconductors.