Superconducting spin-valve effect in a heterostructure containing the Heusler alloy as a ferromagnetic layer

Highlights: • The SC spin-valve effect in the Py/Heusler/Pb heterostructure was studied. • In these structures we observed a full switching between the normal and SC states. • Switching was realized between the parallel and perpendicular magnetization states. We have studied the superconducting spin-valve effect in a F1/F2/S heterostructure containing a Heusler alloy layer standing for an F2 layer. The Heusler alloy layer was grown at the substrate temperature $T_{\mathrm{sub}}=300\text{K}$. According to our previous data in such preparation conditions this layer is a weak ferromagnet. For the samples with the Heusler layer thickness $d_{\mathrm{Heusler}}=1$ and 4 nm the full switching between the normal and superconducting states is realized with the dominant aid of the long-range triplet component of the superconducting pair condensate which occurs at the perpendicular mutual orientation of magnetizations.