Macroscopic quantum tunnelling in spin filter ferromagnetic Josephson junctions

The interfacial coupling of two materials with different ordered phases, such as a superconductor (S) and a ferromagnet (F), is driving new fundamental physics and innovative applications. For example, the creation of spin-filter Josephson junctions and the demonstration of triplet supercurrents have suggested the potential of a dissipationless version of spintronics based on unconventional superconductivity. Here we demonstrate evidence for active quantum applications of S-F-S junctions, through the observation of macroscopic quantum tunnelling in Josephson junctions with GdN ferromagnetic insulator barriers. We show a clear transition from thermal to quantum regime at a crossover temperature of about 100 mK at zero magnetic field in junctions, which present clear signatures of unconventional superconductivity. Following previous demonstration of passive S-F-S phase shifters in a phase qubit, our result paves the way to the active use of spin filter Josephson systems in quantum hybrid circuits. Spin triplet superconductivity may benefit spintronics, providing dissipation-free spin-polarized currents. Here, the authors demonstrate macroscopic quantum tunnelling in spin filter Josephson junctions containing a ferromagnetic insulator barrier of GdN, evidencing unconventional superconductivity below 100 mK.