Experimental verification of contact-size estimates in point-contact   spectroscopy on superconductor/ferromagnet heterocontacts
  Nanostructured superconductor/ferromagnet heterocontacts are studied in the different transport regimes of point-contact spectroscopy. Direct measurements of the nanocontact size by scanning electron microscopy allow a comparison with theoretical models for contact-size estimates of heterocontacts. Our experimental data give evidence that size estimates yield reasonable values for the point-contact diameter $d$ as long as the samples are carefully characterized with respect to the local electronic parameters. 
J. Gramich, P. Brenner, C. S\"urgers, H. v. L\"ohneysen, G. Goll
cond-mat.mes-hall cond-mat.supr-con