528 research outputs found
Mesoscopic transition in the shot noise of diffusive S/N/S junctions
We experimentally investigated the current noise in diffusive
Superconductor/Normal metal/Superconductor junctions with lengths between the
superconducting coherence length xi_Delta and the phase coherence length L_Phi
of the normal metal (xi_Delta < L < L_Phi). We measured the shot noise over a
large range of energy covering both the regimes of coherent and incoherent
multiple Andreev reflections. The transition between these two regimes occurs
at the Thouless energy where a pronounced minimum in the current noise density
is observed. Above the Thouless energy, in the regime of incoherent multiple
Andreev reflections, the noise is strongly enhanced compared to a normal
junction and grows linearly with the bias voltage. Semi-classical theory
describes the experimental results accurately, when taking into account the
voltage dependence of the resistance which reflects the proximity effect. Below
the Thouless energy, the shot noise diverges with decreasing voltage which may
indicate the coherent transfer of multiple charges.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid
Communicatio
Local spectroscopy of a proximity superconductor at very low temperature
We performed the local spectroscopy of a Normal-metal--Superconductor (N-S)
junction with the help of a very low temperature (60 mK) Scanning Tunneling
Microscope (STM). The spatial dependence of the local density of states was
probed locally in the vicinity of the N-S interface. We observed spectra with a
fully-developed gap in the regions where a thin normal metal layer caps the
superconductor dot. Close to the S metal edge, a clear pseudo-gap shows up,
which is characteristic of the superconducting proximity effect in the case of
a long normal metal. The experimental results are compared to the predictions
of the quasiclassical theory.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Voltage-induced Shapiro steps in a superconducting multi-terminal structure
When a superconducting tunnel junction at a finite voltage is irradiated with
microwaves, the interplay between the alternating Josephson current and the ac
field gives rise to steps in the dc current known as Shapiro steps. In this
work we predict that in a mesoscopic structure connected to several
superconducting terminals one can induce Shapiro-like steps in the absence of
any external radiation simply by tuning the voltages of the leads. To
illustrate this effect we make quantitative predictions for a three-terminal
structure which comprises a diffusive superconductor-normal
metal-superconductor junction and a tunneling probe, a set-up which can be
realized experimentally.Comment: revtex4, 5 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Measurement of the Current-Phase Relation in Josephson Junctions Rhombi Chains
We present low temperature transport measurements in one dimensional
Josephson junctions rhombi chains. We have measured the current phase relation
of a chain of 8 rhombi. The junctions are either in the classical phase regime
with the Josephson energy much larger than the charging energy, , or in the quantum phase regime where . In the
strong Josephson coupling regime () we observe a
sawtooth-like supercurrent as a function of the phase difference over the
chain. The period of the supercurrent oscillations changes abruptly from one
flux quantum to half the flux quantum as the rhombi are
tuned in the vicinity of full frustration. The main observed features can be
understood from the complex energy ground state of the chain. For
we do observe a dramatic suppression and rounding of the
switching current dependence which we found to be consistent with the model
developed by Matveev et al.(Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 89}, 096802(2002)) for long
Josephson junctions chains.Comment: to appear in Phys. Rev.
Density of states in a superconductor carrying a supercurrent
We have measured the tunneling density of states (DOS) in a superconductor
carrying a supercurrent or exposed to an external magnetic field. The pair
correlations are weakened by the supercurrent, leading to a modification of the
DOS and to a reduction of the gap. As predicted by the theory of
superconductivity in diffusive metals, we find that this effect is similar to
that of an external magnetic field.Comment: To be published in Physical Review Letter
Shot noise measurements in NS junctions and the semiclassical theory
We present a new analysis of shot noise measurements in normal
metal-superconductor (NS) junctions [X. Jehl et al., Nature 405, 50 (2000)],
based on a recent semiclassical theory. The first calculations at zero
temperature assuming quantum coherence predicted shot noise in NS contacts to
be doubled with respect to normal contacts. The semiclassical approach gives
the first opportunity to compare data and theory quantitatively at finite
voltage and temperature. The doubling of shot noise is predicted up to the
superconducting gap, as already observed, confirming that phase coherence is
not necessary. An excellent agreement is also found above the gap where the
noise follows the normal case.Comment: 2 pages, revtex, 2 eps figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Magnetic Flux Periodic Response of Nano-perforated Ultrathin Superconducting Films
We have patterned a hexagonal array of nano-scale holes into a series of
ultrathin, superconducting Bi/Sb films with transition temperatures 2.65 K
5 K. These regular perforations give the films a phase-sensitive
periodic response to an applied magnetic field. By measuring this response in
their resistive transitions, , we are able to distinguish regimes in
which fluctuations of the amplitude, both the amplitude and phase, and the
phase of the superconducting order parameter dominate the transport. The
portion of dominated by amplitude fluctuations is larger in lower
films and thus, grows with proximity to the superconductor to
insulator transition.Comment: Revised title, abstract, text, figure
Nanoengineered magnetic-field-induced superconductivity
The perpendicular critical fields of a superconducting film have been
strongly enhanced by using a nanoengineered lattice of magnetic dots (dipoles)
on top of the film. Magnetic-field-induced superconductivity is observed in
these hybrid superconductor / ferromagnet systems due to the compensation of
the applied field between the dots by the stray field of the dipole array. By
switching between different magnetic states of the nanoengineered field
compensator, the critical parameters of the superconductor can be effectively
controlled.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Anomalous density of states in a metallic film in proximity with a superconductor
We investigated the local electronic density of states in
superconductor-normal metal (Nb-Au) bilayers using a very low temperature (60
mK) STM. High resolution tunneling spectra measured on the normal metal (Au)
surface show a clear proximity effect with an energy gap of reduced amplitude
compared to the bulk superconductor (Nb) gap. Within this mini-gap, the density
of states does not reach zero and shows clear sub-gap features. We show that
the experimental spectra cannot be described with the well-established Usadel
equations from the quasi-classical theory.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
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