Tunneling-current-induced transitions of superconducting thin films

Conference · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · IEEE Trans. Magn., v. MAG-11, no. 2, pp. 358-361

OSTI ID:4095034

Hebard, A F

The resistive state of a superconducing film can be induced either by passing sufficient current along the film or by raising the temperature above T/ sub c/. We have been studying this transition in aluminum films when they are injected with ''hot'' (i.e., nonthermal) phonons and electrons. This injection efficiently breaks electron pairs in the region near the injection point. These ''hot'' electrons and phonons are produced by tunnel junctions which incorporate or are adjacent to the Al film under study. This method of current injection usually results in significantly lower critical currents than the critical current measured conventionally along the film. Well-defined and reproducible critical currents together with I-V traces for the Al film, which under certain conditions are characterized by a series of constant current voltage steps, have been obtained with a variety of geometrical configurations and different tunnel junction resistances. (auth)

• Research Organization: Bell Telephone Labs., Murray Hill, NJ
• NSA Number: NSA-33-018748
• OSTI ID: 4095034
• Conference Information: Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Magn., v. MAG-11, no. 2, pp. 358-361
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*ALUMINIUM-- SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
643902*
ELECTRONS
FILMS
N50230 --Metals
Ceramics
& Other Materials--Metals & Alloys--Properties
Structure & Phase Studies
N66200* --Physics (Low Temperature)--Superconductivity
PHONONS
TUNNEL EFFECT