Dependence of the electron-inelastic-scattering rate on disorder and temperature in a strongly disordered superconductor

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.44.7555· OSTI ID:5205729

Pyun, D S; Lemberger, T R ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (USA)

The electron-inelastic-scattering rate, 1/{tau}{sub in}, is studied in superconducting amorphous-composite indium oxide films over substantial ranges of resistivity {rho}{sub 4.2} (1.4{le}{rho}{sub 4.2}{le}9.8 m{Omega} cm), sheet resistance {ital R}{sub (spec. char. missing)} (0.17{le}{ital R}{sub (spec. char. missing)}{le}1.8 k{Omega}), and reduced temperature {ital T}/{ital T}{sub {ital c}{ital o}} (0.17{le}{ital T}/{ital T}{sub {ital c}{ital o}}{le}0.6), using an electron tunneling technique. 1/{tau}{sub in}({ital T}) is obtained by a phenomenological analysis of the data. The main result is that 1/{tau}{sub in}{approx}2.8{times}10{sup 10} s{sup {minus}1}({rho}{sub 4.2} (m{Omega} cm) {ital T}{sub {ital c}{ital o}} (K)){sup 3/2}({ital T}/{ital T}{sub {ital c}{ital o}}){sup 3}. That 1/{tau}{sub in}{proportional to}{rho}{sub 4.2}{sup 3/2}, as opposed to 1/{tau}{sub in}{proportional to}{ital R}{sub (spec. char. missing)}, indicates the films are three dimensional (3D) rather than 2D for inelastic scattering. A recent theory explains this result as inelastic electron-phonon scattering that is enhanced by disorder that is strong enough to suppress the normal-state density of states at the Fermi energy significantly.

• OSTI ID: 5205729
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 44:14; ISSN PRBMD; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360204* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Physical Properties
656100 -- Condensed Matter Physics-- Superconductivity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
AMORPHOUS STATE
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
COUPLING
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRON-PHONON COUPLING
ENERGY LEVELS
FERMI LEVEL
FILMS
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM OXIDES
INELASTIC SCATTERING
MATERIALS
ORDER PARAMETERS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
SUPERCONDUCTING COMPOSITES
SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TUNNEL EFFECT
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS