On the feasibility to study inverse proximity effect in a single S/F bilayer by polarized neutron reflectometry

Here we report on a feasibility study aiming to explore the potential of Polarized Neutron Reflectometry (PNR) for detecting the inverse proximity effect in a single superconducting/ferromagnetic bilayer. Experiments, conducted on the V($40$ nm)/Fe($1$ nm) S/F bilayer, have shown that experimental spin asymmetry measured at $T=0.5T_C$ is shifted towards higher $Q$ values compared to the curve measured at $T=1.5T_C$. Such a shift can be described by the appearance in superconducting vanadium of magnetic sub-layer with thickness of $7$ nm and magnetization of $+0.8$ kG.