Recent experimental results on the superconductor/ferromagnet proximity effect

The recent experimental results on the proximity effect in heterostructures composed of superconducting and ferromagnetic thin films are reviewed. First, the experimental observation and investigation of the spin screening effect, i.e., a spin polarization in the V layer developing in the superconducting state under the influence of a spin polarization of conduction electrons in the ferromagnetic layer are discussed. This effect was predicted theoretically by Bergeret {et al.} [F.S. Bergeret, A.F. Volkov, and K.B. Efetov, EPL 66, 111 (2004); Phys. Rev. B 69, 174504 (2004)]. Then, the progress concerning the experimental realization of the superconducting spin switch device based on the superconductor/ferromagnet proximity effect is presented.