Two-dimensional arrays of low capacitance tunnel junctions: general properties, phase transitions and Hall effect

We describe transport properties of two-dimensional arrays of low capacitance tunnel junctions, such as the current voltage characteristic and its dependence on external magnetic field and temperature. We discuss several experiments in which the small capacitance of the junctions plays an important role. In arrays where the junctions have a relatively large charging energy, (i.e. when they have a low capacitance) and a high normal state resistance, the low bias resistance increases with decreasing temperature and eventually at very low temperature the array becomes insulating even though the electrodes in the array are superconducting. This transition to the insulating state can be described by thermal activation. In an intermediate region where the junction resistance is of the order of the quantum resistance and the charging energy is of the order of the Josephson coupling energy, the arrays can be tuned between a superconducting and an insulating state with a magnetic field. We describe measurements of this magnetic-field-tuned superconductor insulator transition, and we show that the resistance data can be scaled over several orders of magnitude. Four arrays follow the same universal function. At the transition the transverse (Hall) resistance is found to be very small in comparison with the longitudinal resistance. However, for magnetic field values larger than the critical value.we observe a substantial Hall resistance. The Hall resistance of these arrays oscillates with the applied magnetic field. features in the magnetic field dependence of the Hall resistance can qualitatively be correlated to features in the derivative of the longitudinal resistance, similar to what is found in the quantum Hall effect.Comment: 29 pages, 16 eps figures, uses aipproc.sty and epsfig.sty, contribution to Euroschool on "Superconductivity in Networks and Mesoscopic Systems", held in Siena, Italy (8-20 september 1997

Gain Dependence of the Noise in the Single Electron Transistor

An extensive investigation of low frequency noise in single electron transistors as a function of gain is presented. Comparing the output noise with gain for a large number of bias points, it is found that the noise is dominated by external charge noise. For low gains we find an additional noise contribution which is compared to a model including resistance fluctuations. We conclude that this excess noise is not only due to resistance fluctuations. For one sample, we find a record low minimum charge noise of qn = 9*10^-6 e/sqrt(Hz) in the superconducting state and qn = 9*10^-6 e/sqrt(Hz) in the normal state at a frequency of 4.4 kHz.Comment: 10 pages, LaTex 2.09, 4 figures (epsfig

Giant lasing effect in magnetic nanoconductors

We propose a new principle for a compact solid-state laser in the 1-100 THz regime. This is a frequency range where attempts to fabricate small size lasers up till now have met severe technical problems. The proposed laser is based on a new mechanism for creating spin-flip processes in ferromagnetic conductors. The mechanism is due to the interaction of light with conduction electrons; the interaction strength, being proportional to the large exchange energy, exceeds the Zeeman interaction by orders of magnitude. On the basis of this interaction, a giant lasing effect is predicted in a system where a population inversion has been created by tunneling injection of spin-polarized electrons from one ferromagnetic conductor to another -- the magnetization of the two ferromagnets having different orientations. Using experimental data for ferromagnetic manganese perovskites with nearly 100% spin polarization we show the laser frequency to be in the range 1-100 THz. The optical gain is estimated to be of order 10^7 cm^{-1}, which exceeds the gain of conventional semiconductor lasers by 3 or 4 orders of magnitude. A relevant experimental study is proposed and discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Superconductivity in an Einstein Solid AxV2Al20 (A = Al and Ga)

A cage compound AxV2Al20 (Al10V), that was called an Einstein solid by Caplin and coworkers 40 years ago, is revisited to investigate the low-energy, local vibrations of the A atoms and their influence on the electronic and superconducting properties of the compound. Polycrystalline samples with A = Al, Ga, Y, and La are studied through resistivity and heat capacity measurements. Weak-coupling BCS superconductivity is observed below Tc = 1.49, 1.66, and 0.69 K for Ax = Al0.3, Ga0.2, and Y, respectively, but not above 0.4 K for Ax = La. Low-energy modes are detected only for A = Al and Ga, which are approximately described by the Einstein model with Einstein temperatures of 24 and 8 K, respectively. A weak but significant coupling between the low-energy modes, which are almost identical to those called rattling in recent study, and conduction electrons manifests itself as anomalous enhancement in resistivity at around low temperatures corresponding to the Einstein temperatures.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Observation of anisotropic effect of antiferromagnetic ordering on the superconducting gap in ErNi2B2C

The point-contact (PC) spectra of the Andreev reflection dV/dI curves of the superconducting rare-earth nickel borocarbide ErNi2B2C (Tc=11 K) have been analyzed in the "one-gap" and "two-gap" approximations using the generalized Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk (GBTK) model and the Beloborod'ko (BB) model allowing for the pair-breaking effect of magnetic impurities. Experimental and calculated curves have been compared not only in shape, but in magnitude as well, which provide more reliable data for determining the temperature dependence of the energy gap (or superconducting order parameter) \Delta(T). The anisotropic effect of antiferromagnetic ordering at T_N =6 K on the superconducting gap/order parameter has been determined: as the temperature is lowered, \Delta(T) decreases by 25% in the c-direction and only by 4% in the ab-plane. It is found that the pair-breaking parameter increases in the vicinity of the magnetic transitions, the increase being more pronounced in the c-direction. The efficiency of the models was tested for providing \Delta(T) data for ErNi2B2C from Andreev reflection spectra.Comment: 16 two column pages, 20 figs., will be published in Fiz. Nizk. Temp. N10, 2010; V2: added - "Acknowledgement" & "Note added in proof

Density of States and Energy Gap in Andreev Billiards

We present numerical results for the local density of states in semiclassical Andreev billiards. We show that the energy gap near the Fermi energy develops in a chaotic billiard. Using the same method no gap is found in similar square and circular billiards.Comment: 9 pages, 6 Postscript figure