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Study of the proximity effect in Nb/Au, Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8+{ital y}}/Au, and HgBa{sub 2}CuO{sub 4}/Ag using a scanning tunneling microscope

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.362373· OSTI ID:283798
; ;  [1]
  1. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)
Proximity effect gaps were observed consistently in Nb/Au, Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8+{ital y}}/Au, and HgBa{sub 2}CuO{sub 4}/Ag bilayers using a low temperature scanning tunneling microscope. The Nb/Au conductance curves [{ital dI}({ital V})/{ital dV} vs {ital V}] were fit by the Arnold model, using the accepted energy gap value of Nb, 1.55 meV. The application of gold and silver overlayers allowed vacuum tunneling and topographic images of BSCCO single crystals and the HgBa{sub 2}CuO{sub 4} polycrystalline sample. Cleavage steps of varying sizes (up to 1500 A) in the BSCCO/Au sample were observed, and gaplike features were found on such steps. Consistent, reproducible energy gaps were also found in the Hg-compound sample. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
283798
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 79; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English