Localized superconductivity in the quantum-critical region of the disorder-driven superconductor-insulator transition in TiN thin films.
We investigate low-temperature transport properties of thin TiN superconducting films in the vicinity of the disorder-driven superconductor-insulator transition. In a zero magnetic field, we find an extremely sharp separation between superconducting and insulating phases, evidencing a direct superconductor-insulator transition without an intermediate metallic phase. At moderate temperatures, in the insulating films we reveal thermally activated conductivity with the magnetic field-dependent activation energy. At very low temperatures, we observe a zero-conductivity state, which is destroyed at some depinning threshold voltage V{sub T}. These findings indicate the formation of a distinct collective state of the localized Cooper pairs in the critical region at both sides of the transition.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC); Russian Academy of Sciences; Deutsche Forschungsgemienschaft
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1001620
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/MSD/JA-68677; TRN: US1100428
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. Lett., Vol. 99, Issue Dec. 21, 2007
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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