4 research outputs found
Paramagnetic reentrant effect in high purity mesoscopic AgNb proximity structures
We discuss the magnetic response of clean Ag coated Nb proximity cylinders in
the temperature range 150 \mu K < T < 9 K. In the mesoscopic temperature
regime, the normal metal-superconductor system shows the yet unexplained
paramagnetic reentrant effect, discovered some years ago [P. Visani, A. C.
Mota, and A. Pollini, Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 1514 (1990)], superimposing on full
Meissner screening. The logarithmic slope of the reentrant paramagnetic
susceptibility chi_para(T) \propto \exp(-L/\xi_N) is limited by the condition
\xi_N=n L, with \xi_N=\hbar v_F/2 \pi k_B T, the thermal coherence length and
n=1,2,4. In wires with perimeters L=72 \mu m and L=130 \mu m, we observe
integer multiples n=1,2,4. At the lowest temperatures, \chi_para compensates
the diamagnetic susceptibility of the \textit{whole} AgNb structure.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures (color
The excitation spectrum of mesoscopic proximity structures
We investigate one aspect of the proximity effect, viz., the local density of
states of a superconductor-normal metal sandwich. In contrast to earlier work,
we allow for the presence of an arbitrary concentration of impurities in the
structure. The superconductor induces a gap in the normal metal spectrum that
is proportional to the inverse of the elastic mean free path l_N for rather
clean systems. For a mean free path much shorter than the thickness of the
normal metal, we find a gap size proportional to l_N that approaches the
behavior predicted by the Usadel equation (diffusive limit). We also discuss
the influence of interface and surface roughness, the consequences of a
non-ideal transmittivity of the interface, and the dependence of our results on
the choice of the model of impurity scattering.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures (included), submitted to PR
Diamagnetic response of cylindrical normal metal - superconductor proximity structures with low concentration of scattering centers
We have investigated the diamagnetic response of composite NS proximity
wires, consisting of a clean silver or copper coating, in good electrical
contact to a superconducting niobium or tantalum core. The samples show strong
induced diamagnetism in the normal layer, resulting in a nearly complete
Meissner screening at low temperatures. The temperature dependence of the
linear diamagnetic susceptibility data is successfully described by the
quasiclassical Eilenberger theory including elastic scattering characterised by
a mean free path l. Using the mean free path as the only fit parameter we found
values of l in the range 0.1-1 of the normal metal layer thickness d_N, which
are in rough agreement with the ones obtained from residual resistivity
measurements. The fits are satisfactory over the whole temperature range
between 5 mK and 7 K for values of d_N varying between 1.6 my m and 30 my m.
Although a finite mean free path is necessary to correctly describe the
temperature dependence of the linear response diamagnetic susceptibility, the
measured breakdown fields in the nonlinear regime follow the temperature and
thickness dependence given by the clean limit theory. However, there is a
discrepancy in the absolute values. We argue that in order to reach
quantitative agreement one needs to take into account the mean free path from
the fits of the linear response. [PACS numbers: 74.50.+r, 74.80.-g]Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure