Disorder-induced inhomogeneities of the superconducting state close to the superconductor-insulator transition.

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2008 · Phys. Rev. Lett.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.157006· OSTI ID:1004053

Sacepe, B; Chapelier, C; Baturina, T I; Vinokur, V M; Baklanov, M R; Sanquer, M; CEA, INAC; IMEC,

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy at very low temperatures on homogeneously disordered superconducting titanium nitride thin films reveals strong spatial inhomogeneities of the superconducting gap {Delta} in the density of states. Upon increasing disorder, we observe suppression of the superconducting critical temperature T{sub c} towards zero, enhancement of spatial fluctuations in {Delta}, and growth of the {Delta}/T{sub c} ratio. These findings suggest that local superconductivity survives across the disorder-driven superconductor-insulator transition.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC); Russian Academy of Sciences
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1004053
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-68898; TRN: US201103%%298
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett., Vol. 101, Issue 2008
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CRITICAL TEMPERATURE
FLUCTUATIONS
SPECTROSCOPY
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
THIN FILMS
TITANIUM NITRIDES
TUNNELING