Penetration depth of Cooper pairs in the IrMn antiferromagnet

Suppression of superconductivity due to the proximity effect between a superconductor and ferromagnet can be partially alleviated when Cooper pair simultaneously samples different directions short-range exchange field. The superconductor's critical temperature, ${T}_{C}$, is therefore expected recover in multidomain state, as opposed single-domain state. Here, we discuss series experiments performed with ferromagnet(Pt/Co)/spacer(IrMn Pt)/superconductor(NbN) heterostructures. By tuning various parameters play, e.g., superconducting coherence length-to-thicknesses ratio, domain sizes, obtained up 10% recovery temperature $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{T}_{C}/{T}_{C}$. This large-scale made investigations possible. In particular, from spacer thickness dependence $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{T}_{C}/{T}_{C}$, it was possible deduce characteristic length for penetration an IrMn antiferromagnet. information crucial electronic transport, now has been difficult access experimentally antiferromagnets.