Localized superconductivity in the quantum-critical region of the disorder-driven superconductor-insulator transition in TiN thin films.

Journal Article · Fri Dec 21 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Phys. Rev. Lett.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.257003· OSTI ID:1001620

Baturina, T I; Mironov, A Yu; Vinokur, V M; Baklanov, M R; Strunk, C; IMEC,

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 Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC; Russian Academy of Sciences; Deutsche Forschungsgemienschaft
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1001620
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-68677
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett., Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett. Journal Issue: Dec. 21, 2007 Vol. 99; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ACTIVATION ENERGY
COOPER PAIRS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
THIN FILMS
TRANSPORT