Non-conservation of Density of States in Bi2_2Sr2_2CaCu2_2Oy_y: Coexistence of Pseudogap and Superconducting gap

The tunneling spectra obtained within the ab-plane of Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_y$ (Bi2212) for temperatures below and above the critical temperature (T$_c$) are analyzed. We find that the tunneling conductance spectra for the underdoped compound in the superconducting state do not follow the conservation of states rule. There is a consistent loss of states for the underdoped BI2212 implying an underlying depression in the density of states (DOS) and hence the pseudogap near the Fermi energy (E$_F$). Such an underlying depression can also explain the peak-dip-hump structure observed in the spectra. Furthermore, the conservation of states is recovered and the dip-hump structure disappears after normalizing the low temperature spectra with that of the normal state. We argue that this is a direct evidence for the coexistence of a pseudogap with the superconducting gap.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Josephson Coupling in the Dissipative State of a Thermally Hysteretic μ\mu-SQUID

Micron-sized superconducting interference devices ($\mu$-SQUIDs) based on constrictions optimized for minimizing thermal runaway are shown to exhibit voltage oscillations with applied magnetic flux despite their hysteretic behavior. We explain this remarkable feature by a significant supercurrent contribution surviving deep into the resistive state, due to efficient heat evacuation. A resistively shunted junction model, complemented by a thermal balance determining the amplitude of the critical current, describes well all experimental observations, including the flux modulation of the (dynamic) retrapping current and voltage by introducing a single dimensionless parameter. Thus hysteretic $\mu$-SQUIDs can be operated in the voltage read-out mode with a faster response. The quantitative modeling of this regime incorporating both heating and phase dynamics paves the way for further optimization of $\mu$-SQUIDs for nano-magnetism.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, Revise

Controlling hysteresis in superconducting constrictions with a resistive shunt

We demonstrate control of the thermal hysteresis in superconducting constrictions by adding a resistive shunt. In order to prevent thermal relaxation oscillations, the shunt resistor is placed in close vicinity of the constriction, making the inductive current-switching time smaller than the thermal equilibration time. We investigate the current-voltage characteristics of the same constriction with and without the shunt-resistor. The widening of the hysteresis-free temperature range is explained on the basis of a simple model.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, including Supplementary Informatio

Enhanced performance of MoS2_2/SiO2_2 field-effect transistors by hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) encapsulation

Scalable methods for improving the performance and stability of a field-effect transistor (FET) based on two-dimensional materials are crucial for its real applications. A scalable method of encapsulating the exfoliated MoS$_{2}$ on SiO$_{2}$/Si substrate by hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) is explored here for reducing the influence of interface traps and ambient contaminants. This leads to twenty-five times reduction in trap density, three times decrease in subthreshold swing, three times increase in the peak field-effect mobility and a drastic reduction in hysteresis. This performance remains nearly the same after several weeks of ambient exposure of the device. This is attributed to the superhydrophobic nature of HMDS and the SiO$_2$ surface hydrophobization by the formation of covalent bonds between the methyl groups of HMDS and silanol groups of SiO$_{2}$.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure