Romijn J, Klapwijk TM, Renne MJ, Mooij JE. Critical pair-breaking current in superconducting aluminum strips far below Tc. Phys Rev B. 1982;26(7):3648–55.
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 Ïl value of 4×10–16 Ωm2 with vF=1.3×106 m/s. This value for Ïl 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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Santhanam P, Wind S, Prober DE. Localization, superconducting fluctuations, and superconductivity in thin films and narrow wires of aluminum. Phys Rev B. 1987;35(7):3188–206.
Abstract: We report a comprehensive set of experiments on wide and narrow thin-film strips of aluminum which test the predictions of recent localization theory. The experiments on wide films in the two-dimensional regime confirm the theoretical predictions and also yield insight into inelastic mechanisms and spin-orbit scattering rates. Our extension of the existing theory for one-dimensional systems to include spin-orbit scattering and Maki-Thompson superconducting fluctuations is verified by the experiments. We find clear evidence for one-dimensional localization, with inferred inelastic rates identical to those in two-dimensional films. The prediction of the localization theory for a dimensional crossover from two-dimensional to one-dimensional behavior is also confirmed. We have reanalyzed the results of some previous experiments on thin films and narrow wires in light of these results.
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Heslinga DR, Shafranjuk SE, van Kempen H, Klapwijk TM. Observation of double-gap-edge Andreev reflection at Si/Nb interfaces by point-contact spectroscopy. Phys Rev B. 1994;49(15):10484–94.
Abstract: Andreev reflection point-contact spectroscopy is performed on a bilayer consisting of 50-nm degenerately doped Si backed with Nb. Due to the short mean free path both injection into and transport across the Si layer are diffusive, in contrast to the ballistic conditions prevailing in clean metal layers. Nevertheless a large Andreev signal is observed in the point-contact characteristics, not reduced by elastic scattering in the Si layer or by interface scattering, but only limited by the transmission coefficient of the metal-semiconductor point contact. Two peaks in the Andreev reflection probability are visible, marking the values of the superconducting energy gap at the interface on the Nb and Si sides. This interpretation is supported by a method of solving the Bogolubov equations analytically using a simplified expression for the variation of the order parameter close to the interface. This observation enables a comparison with theoretical predictions of the gap discontinuity in the proximity effect. It is found that the widely used de Gennes model does not agree with the experimental data.
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Sergeev AV, Semenov AD, Kouminov P, Trifonov V, Goghidze IG, Karasik BS, et al. Transparency of a YBa2Cu3O7-film/substrate interface for thermal phonons measured by means of voltage response to radiation. Phys Rev B Condens Matter. 1994;49(13):9091–6.
Abstract: The transparency of a film/substrate interface for thermal phonons was investigated for YBa2Cu3O7 thin films deposited on MgO, Al2O3, LaAlO3, NdGaO3, and ZrO2 substrates. Both voltage response to pulsed-visible and to continuously modulated far-infrared radiation show two regimes of heat escape from the film to the substrate. That one dominated by the thermal boundary resistance at the film/substrate interface provides an initial exponential decay of the response. The other one prevailing at longer times or smaller modulation frequencies causes much slower decay and is governed by phonon diffusion in the substrate. The transparency of the boundary for phonons incident from the film on the substrate and also from the substrate on the film was determined separately from the characteristic time of the exponential decay and from the time at which one regime was changed to the other. Taking into account the specific heat of optical phonons and the temperature dependence of the group velocity of acoustic phonons, we show that the body of experimental data agrees with acoustic mismatch theory rather than with the model that assumes strong diffusive scattering of phonons at the interface.
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Semenov AD, Nebosis RS, Gousev YP, Heusinger MA, Renk KF. Analysis of the nonequilibrium photoresponse of superconducting films to pulsed radiation by use of a two-temperature model. Phys Rev B. 1995;52(1):581–90.
Abstract: Photoresponse of a superconducting film in the resistive state to pulsed radiation has been studied in the framework of a model assuming that two different effective temperatures can be assigned to the quasiparticle and phonon nonequilibrium distributions. The coupled electron-phonon-substrate system is described by a system of time-dependent energy-balance differential equations for effective temperatures. An analytical solution of the system is given and calculated voltage transients are compared with experimental photoresponse signals taking into account the radiation pulse shape and the time resolution of the readout electronics. It is supposed that a resistive state (vortices, fluxons, network of intergrain junctions, hot spots, phase slip centers) provides an ultrafast connection between electron temperature changes and changes of the film resistance and thus plays a minor role in the temporal evolution of the response. In accordance with experimental observations a two-component response was revealed from simulations. The slower component corresponds to a bolometric mechanism while the fast component is connected with the relaxation of the electron temperature. Calculated photoresponse transients are presented for different ratios of the electron and phonon specific heat, radiation pulse durations and fluences, and frequency band passes of registration electronics. From the amplitude of the bolometric component we determine the radiation energy absorbed in a film. This enables us to reveal an intrinsic electron-phonon scattering time even if it is much shorter than the time resolution of readout electronics. We analyze experimental voltage transients for NbN, YBa2Cu3O7, and TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9 superconducting films and find the electron-phonon interaction times at the transition temperatures of 17, 2.5, and 1.8 ps, respectively. The values are in reasonable agreement with data of other experiments.
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