Subharmonic energy-gap structure and heating effects in superconducting niobium point contacts

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.40.8693· OSTI ID:5375175

Flensberg, K; Hansen, J B ^[1]

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1. Physics Laboratory I, Modellering, Ikke-Lineaer Dynamik og Irreversibel Termodynamik, The Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark (DK)

We present experimental data of the temperature-dependent subharmonic energy-gap structure (SGS) in the current-voltage ({ital I}-{ital V}) curves of superconducting niobium point contacts. The observed SGS is modified by heating effects. We construct a model of the quasiparticle conductance of metallic superconducting weak links that includes the heating effects self-consistently. Our model is combined with that of Octavio, Blonder, Klapwijk, and Tinkham (Phys. Rev. B 27, 6739 (1983)), which is based on the idea of multiple Andreev scattering in the contact. The shape and the temperature variation of the calculated SGS is found to be in good agreement with the experimental curves for contacts with resistance larger than 5 {Omega}.

• OSTI ID: 5375175
• Journal Information: Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Vol. 40:13; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
JUNCTIONS
ENERGY GAP
NIOBIUM
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
HEATING
QUASI PARTICLES
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
ULTRALOW TEMPERATURE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
360104* - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties
656100 - Condensed Matter Physics- Superconductivity