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Author Bulaevskii, L. N.; Graf, Matthias J.; Kogan, V. G.
Title Vortex-assisted photon counts and their magnetic field dependence in single-photon superconducting detectors Type Journal Article
Year 2012 Publication Phys. Rev. B Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. B
Volume 85 Issue 1 Pages 9
Keywords (up) SSPD; SNSPD; single-vortex crossing; normal-state belt
Abstract We argue that photon counts in a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) are caused by the transition from a current-biased metastable superconducting state to the normal state. Such a transition is triggered by vortices crossing the thin and narrow superconducting strip from one edge to another due to the Lorentz force. Detector counts in SNSPDs may be caused by three processes: (a) a single incident photon with sufficient energy to break enough Cooper pairs to create a normal-state belt across the entire width of the strip (direct photon count), (b) thermally induced single-vortex crossing in the absence of photons (dark count), which at high-bias currents releases the energy sufficient to trigger the transition to the normal state in a belt across the whole width of the strip, and (c) a single incident photon of insufficient energy to create a normal-state belt but initiating a subsequent single-vortex crossing, which provides the rest of the energy needed to create the normal-state belt (vortex-assisted single-photon count). We derive the current dependence of the rate of vortex-assisted photon counts. The resulting photon count rate has a plateau at high currents close to the critical current and drops as a power law with high exponent at lower currents. While the magnetic field perpendicular to the film plane does not affect the formation of hot spots by photons, it causes the rate of vortex crossings (with or without photons) to increase. We show that by applying a magnetic field one may characterize the energy barrier for vortex crossings and identify the origin of dark counts and vortex-assisted photon counts.
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Call Number RPLAB @ gujma @ Serial 733
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Author Romijn, J.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Renne, M. J.; Mooij, J. E.
Title Critical pair-breaking current in superconducting aluminum strips far below Tc Type Journal Article
Year 1982 Publication Phys. Rev. B Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. B
Volume 26 Issue 7 Pages 3648-3655
Keywords (up) superconducting nanowire
Abstract Critical currents of narrow, thin aluminum strips have been measured as a function of temperature. For the smallest samples uniformity of the current density is obtained over a large temperature range. Hence the intrinsic limit on the currentcarrying capacity of the superconductor was measured outside the Ginzburg-Landau -regime. The experimental values are compared with recent theoretical predictions by Kupriyanov and Lukichev. An approximate method of solving their equations is given, the results of which agree with the exact solution to within 1%. Experimental data are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. The absolute values agree if one assumes a ρl value of 4×10–16 Ωm2 with vF=1.3×106 m/s. This value for ρl is the same as that found from measurements of the anomalous skin effect but differs from values extracted from size-effect-limited resistivity.
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Notes Recommended by Klapwijk Approved no
Call Number Serial 925
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Author Shah, Nayana; Pekker, David; Goldbart, Paul M.
Title Inherent stochasticity of superconductor-resistor switching behavior in nanowires Type Journal Article
Year 2008 Publication Phys. Rev. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. Lett.
Volume 101 Issue Pages 207001(1 to 4)
Keywords (up) superconducting nanowires, phase-slip, self-heating effect, temperature profile
Abstract We study the stochastic dynamics of superconductive-resistive switching in hysteretic current-biased superconducting nanowires undergoing phase-slip fluctuations. We evaluate the mean switching time using the master-equation formalism, and hence obtain the distribution of switching currents. We find that as the temperature is reduced this distribution initially broadens; only at lower temperatures does it show the narrowing with cooling naively expected for phase slips that are thermally activated. We also find that although several phase-slip events are generally necessary to induce switching, there is an experimentally accessible regime of temperatures and currents for which just one single phase-slip event is sufficient to induce switching, via the local heating it causes.
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Call Number Serial 919
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Author Bell, M.; Sergeev, A.; Mitin, V.; Bird, J.; Verevkin, A.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title One-dimensional resistive states in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors: Experiment and theory Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Phys. Rev. B Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. B
Volume 76 Issue 9 Pages 094521 (1 to 5)
Keywords (up) uasi-two-dimensional superconductors, NbN
Abstract We investigate competition between one- and two-dimensional topological excitations—phase slips and vortices—in the formation of resistive states in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors in a wide temperature range below the mean-field transition temperature TC0. The widths w=100nm of our ultrathin NbN samples are substantially larger than the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length ξ=4nm, and the fluctuation resistivity above TC0 has a two-dimensional character. However, our data show that the resistivity below TC0 is produced by one-dimensional excitations—thermally activated phase slip strips (PSSs) overlapping the sample cross section. We also determine the scaling phase diagram, which shows that even in wider samples the PSS contribution dominates over vortices in a substantial region of current and/or temperature variations. Measuring the resistivity within 7 orders of magnitude, we find that the quantum phase slips can only be essential below this level.
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ISSN 1098-0121 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1423
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Author Anthore, A.; Pothier, H.; Esteve, D.
Title Density of states in a superconductor carrying a supercurrent Type Journal Article
Year 2003 Publication Phys. Rev. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. Lett.
Volume 90 Issue 12 Pages 127001 (1 to 4)
Keywords (up) Usadel, superconducting nanowire
Abstract 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.
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Notes Recommended by Klapwijk Approved no
Call Number Serial 924
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