Superconducting proximity effect through high-quality high-conductance tunnel barriers

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1996 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.53.5683· OSTI ID:279093

Capogna, L ^[1]; Blamire, M G ^[2]

---

1. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno (Italy)
2. Department of Materials Science, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB23QZ (United Kingdom)

The temperature dependence of the critical current of very high-conductance Nb-AlO{sub {ital x}}-Al-AlO{sub {ital x}}-Nb tunnel junctions with thin middle Al layers (thickness {ital d}{sub Al} 2{endash}8 nm) shows a tail above the Al critical temperature, whose amplitude strongly depends on {ital d}{sub Al}. This is interpreted as evidence of a proximity effect through tunnel barriers whose high quality and transparency can be independently assessed. These data have been modeled within the framework of the McMillan model using independently measurable barrier transmission factors, and obtaining an excellent quantitative agreement. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 279093
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Vol. 53, Issue 9; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ALUMINIUM
PROXIMITY EFFECT
TUNNEL EFFECT
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
NIOBIUM
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
CRITICAL CURRENT
LAYERS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0000-0013 K
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE