44 research outputs found
Experimental study of intrinsic multiple Andreev reflections effect in GdO(F)FeAs superconductor array junctions
We report the first observation of the intrinsic multiple Andreev reflections
effect (IMARE) in S-n-S-...-S-arrays (S = superconductor, n = normal metal)
formed by "break-junction" technique in GdO(F)FeAs superconductor (Tc = 48 - 53
K). We show that superconducting gap peculiarities at dI/dV-spectra sharpen
dramatically in the arrays as compared with that in the single-contact spectra;
this enables to improve significantly accuracy of the bulk superconducting
parameters determination. Using IMARE, we determined the large and the small
gap values \Delta_L = 11 +- 1.1 meV and \Delta_S = 2.6 +- 0.4 meV. The
BCS-ratio 2\Delta_L/kTc^{local} = 5.0 - 5.9 > 3.52 (Tc^{local} is the contact
area critical temperature) evidences for a strong electron-boson coupling. The
results obtained agree well with our previous data by Andreev spectroscopy for
single SnS-contacts.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
Observation of Multi-Gap Superconductivity in GdO(F)FeAs by Andreev Spectroscopy
We have studied current-voltage characteristics of Andreev contacts in
polycrystalline GdOFFeAs samples with bulk critical
temperature = (52.5 \pm 1)K using break-junction technique. The data
obtained cannot be described within the single-gap approach and suggests the
existence of a multi-gap superconductivity in this compound. The large and
small superconducting gap values estimated at T = 4.2K are {\Delta}L = 10.5 \pm
2 meV and {\Delta}S = 2.3 \pm 0.4 meV, respectively.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to JETP Letter
Detecting the translocation of DNA through a nanopore using graphene nanoribbons
Solid-state nanopores can act as single-molecule sensors and could potentially be used to rapidly sequence DNA molecules. However, nanopores are typically fabricated in insulating membranes that are as thick as 15 bases, which makes it difficult for the devices to read individual bases. Graphene is only 0.335 nm thick (equivalent to the spacing between two bases in a DNA chain) and could therefore provide a suitable membrane for sequencing applications. Here, we show that a solid-state nanopore can be integrated with a graphene nanoribbon transistor to create a sensor for DNA translocation. As DNA molecules move through the pore, the device can simultaneously measure drops in ionic current and changes in local voltage in the transistor, which can both be used to detect the molecules. We examine the correlation between these two signals and use the ionic current measurements as a real-time control of the graphene-based sensing device
Study of the Two-Gap Superconductivity in GdO(F)FeAs by ScS-Andreev Spectroscopy
Current-voltage characteristics and dynamic conductance of the superconductor
- constriction - superconductor junctions in GdO(F)FeAs polycrystalline samples
with critical temperatures Tc^local = 46 - 53 K were investigated. Two
superconducting gaps, the large Delta_L = 10.5 +- 2 meV, and the small one
Delta_S = 2.3 +- 0.4 meV were clearly observed at T = 4.2 K. The
2Delta_L/kTc^local = 5.5 +- 1 ratio gives support to the strong coupling
mechanism which is responsible for the high Tc value. Temperature dependence of
the large gap Delta_L(T) indicates the presence of intrinsic proximity effect
(in k-space) between two superconducting condensates.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures. Submitted to Journal of Physics: Conference
Serie
Thermodiffusion in multicomponent n-alkane mixtures
Compositional grading within a mixture has a strong impact on the evaluation of the pre-exploitation distribution of hydrocarbons in underground layers and sediments. Thermodiffusion, which leads to a partial diffusive separation of species in a mixture due to the geothermal gradient, is thought to play an important role in determining the distribution of species in a reservoir. However, despite recent progress, thermodiffusion is still difficult to measure and model in multicomponent mixtures. In this work, we report on experimental investigations of the thermodiffusion of multicomponent n-alkane mixtures at pressure above 30 MPa. The experiments have been conducted in space onboard the Shi Jian 10 spacecraft so as to isolate the studied phenomena from convection. For the two exploitable cells, containing a ternary liquid mixture and a condensate gas, measurements have shown that the lightest and heaviest species had a tendency to migrate, relatively to the rest of the species, to the hot and cold region, respectively. These trends have been confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. The measured condensate gas data have been used to quantify the influence of thermodiffusion on the initial fluid distribution of an idealised one dimension reservoir. The results obtained indicate that thermodiffusion tends to noticeably counteract the influence of gravitational segregation on the vertical distribution of species, which could result in an unstable fluid column. This confirms that, in oil and gas reservoirs, the availability of thermodiffusion data for multicomponent mixtures is crucial for a correct evaluation of the initial state fluid distribution