Photon-assisted vortex depairing in two-dimensional superconductors

Journal Article · Mon Dec 17 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Physical Review Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.65.3193· OSTI ID:5863019

Kadin, A M ^[1]; Leung, M; Smith, A D ^[2]

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1. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (USA)
2. TRW Space and Technology Group, Redondo Beach, CA (USA)

We propose a novel quantum detection mechanism for photon absorption in a two-dimensional superconductor that exhibits a vortex-unbinding transition. Well below the transition, absorption of a single photon of energy hf can result in the creation of a vortex-antivortex pair, which can be broken apart in an applied current, thus transferring a single flux quantum {Phi}{sub 0} across the film. This results in a quantum-limited voltage responsivity {Phi}{sub 0}/{ital hf}=1/2{ital ef}, and may account for some reports of enhanced nonbolometric detection of infrared radiation in thin granular superconducting films.

• OSTI ID: 5863019
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (USA), Vol. 65:26; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS
ENERGY ABSORPTION
MAGNETIC FLUX
DETECTION
GRANULAR MATERIALS
INFRARED RADIATION
MEAN-FIELD THEORY
PHOTODETECTORS
PHOTONS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
THEORETICAL DATA
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
ABSORPTION
DATA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FILMS
INFORMATION
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL DATA
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
656100* - Condensed Matter Physics- Superconductivity