Phase controlled superconducting proximity effect probed by tunneling spectroscopy

Using a dual-mode STM-AFM microscope operating below 50mK we measured the Local Density of States (LDoS) along small normal wires connected at both ends to superconductors with different phases. We observe that a uniform minigap can develop in the whole normal wire and in the superconductors near the interfaces. The minigap depends periodically on the phase difference. The quasiclassical theory of superconductivity applied to a simplified 1D model geometry accounts well for the data.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Dynamical Coulomb Blockade of Shot Noise

We observe the suppression of the finite frequency shot-noise produced by a voltage biased tunnel junction due to its interaction with a single electromagnetic mode of high impedance. The tunnel junction is embedded in a quarter wavelength resonator containing a dense SQUID array providing it with a characteristic impedance in the kOhms range and a resonant frequency tunable in the 4-6 GHz range. Such high impedance gives rise to a sizeable Coulomb blockade on the tunnel junction (roughly 30% reduction in the differential conductance) and allows an efficient measurement of the spectral density of the current fluctuations at the resonator frequency. The observed blockade of shot-noise is found in agreement with an extension of the dynamical Coulomb blockade theory

UNAMUNO, M.: Del sentimiento trágico de la vida en los hombres y en los pueblos.

Sin resume

Superconducting atomic contacts under microwave irradiation

We have measured the effect of microwave irradiation on the dc current-voltage characteristics of superconducting atomic contacts. The interaction of the external field with the ac supercurrents leads to replicas of the supercurrent peak, the well known Shapiro resonances. The observation of supplementary fractional resonances for contacts containing highly transmitting conduction channels reveals their non-sinusoidal current-phase relation. The resonances sit on a background current which is itself deeply modified, as a result of photon assisted multiple Andreev reflections. The results provide firm support for the full quantum theory of transport between two superconductors based on the concept of Andreev bound states

The Bright Side of Coulomb Blockade

We explore the photonic (bright) side of dynamical Coulomb blockade (DCB) by measuring the radiation emitted by a dc voltage-biased Josephson junction embedded in a microwave resonator. In this regime Cooper pair tunneling is inelastic and associated to the transfer of an energy 2eV into the resonator modes. We have measured simultaneously the Cooper pair current and the photon emission rate at the resonance frequency of the resonator. Our results show two regimes, in which each tunneling Cooper pair emits either one or two photons into the resonator. The spectral properties of the emitted radiation are accounted for by an extension to DCB theory.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures + 3 pages, 1 figure supplementary materia

High-gain weakly nonlinear flux-modulated Josephson parametric amplifier using a SQUID-array

We have developed and measured a high-gain quantum-limited microwave parametric amplifier based on a superconducting lumped LC resonator with the inductor L including an array of 8 superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). This amplifier is parametrically pumped by modulating the flux threading the SQUIDs at twice the resonator frequency. Around 5 GHz, a maximum gain of 31 dB, a product amplitude-gain x bandwidth above 60 MHz, and a 1 dB compression point of -123 dBm at 20 dB gain are obtained in the non-degenerate mode of operation. Phase sensitive amplification-deamplification is also measured in the degenerate mode and yields a maximum gain of 37 dB. The compression point obtained is 18 dB above what would be obtained with a single SQUID of the same inductance, due to the smaller nonlinearity of the SQUID array.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 23 reference

Comparative study of the classification of plutonic and volcanic rocks using the normative Q' (F')-ANOR and chemical SiO2-100·CaO/(CaO+K2O) diagrams

To obtain a classification of igneous rocks, compatible with the QAPF classification, in the absence of modal analyses, a chemical diagram using the same discriminating elements as the Q'(F')-ANOR normative diagram has been proposed. These elements, Si, Ca and K, are essential constituents of quartz, feldspars and feldspathoids. The different proportions between these minerals are the basis of the QAPF modal classification but also those of the normative classification Q'(F')-ANOR. The chemical diagram SiO2100·CaO/(CaO+K2O) uses these same elements but with the important difference that they are treated as independent variables. This characteristic allows igneous rocks to be classified with a nomenclature equivalent to that obtained by modal analyses, using only Si, Ca and K analytical data. The plotting of a set of representative plutonic and volcanic rocks reveals a remarkable concordance between both diagrams. However, some discrepancies and overlaps occur in the subsaturated fields due to the inability of the method to determine whether the lower silica content is due to the presence of olivine or feldspathoids. The samples selected belong to igneous series from diverse geotectonic areas , thus helping to evaluate the results in a global context

A chemical approximation to the modal QAPF and normative Q' (F')-ANOR classification of the igneous rocks based on their SiO2-CaO-K2O content

Magmas can form plutonic or volcanic rocks of the same chemical composition. The modal composition of the plutonic rocks can be quantified but in the case of volcanic rocks this is not always possible, because of its aphanitic texture and presence of glass. These characteristics prevent a mineralogical classification in equivalent diagrams for both types of rocks. To resolve this problem, the IUGS recommends the use of chemical TAS diagram in cases where obtaining the modal composition is not possible, in an attempt to adjust its nomenclature to that represented in the QAPF modal diagram. A best approximation is obtained with the normative diagram Q'(F')-ANOR in which the anorthite and the orthoclase are used as a discriminating factor. In this work, the chemical SiO2-100·CaO/(CaO+K2O) diagram is presented, which largely reproduces the aforementioned normative classification but in a simplified form since it uses only three discriminating chemical components (SiO2, CaO and K2O). The delimitation and nomenclature of the fields has been undertaken empirically using as an example the normative diagram and plotting the analyses of typical igneous rocks. The approximate limit of silica saturation has been drawn as a straight line joining the feldspathic compositions, between orthoclase and anorthit

Fluctuation-Dissipation Relations of a Tunnel Junction Driven by a Quantum Circuit

We derive fluctuation-dissipation relations for a tunnel junction driven by a high impedance microwave resonator, displaying strong quantum fluctuations. We find that the fluctuation-dissipation relations derived for classical forces hold, provided the effect of the circuit's quantum fluctuations is incorporated into a modified non-linear $I(V)$ curve. We also demonstrate that all quantities measured under a coherent time dependent bias can be reconstructed from their dc counterpart with a photo-assisted tunneling relation. We confirm these predictions by implementing the circuit and measuring the dc current through the junction, its high frequency admittance and its current noise at the frequency of the resonator.Comment: Publisehd as Physical Review Letters, 114, 12680