Superconducting phase transitions in indium/indium-oxide thin-film composites

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.28.5075· OSTI ID:5369085

Fiory, A T; Hebard, A F; Glaberson, W I

Low-frequency techniques are used to examine the predictions of the equilibrium Kosterlitz-Thouless theory of the vortex-pair unbinding transition in indium/indium-oxide composite superconducting thin films. The renormalized superfluid density obtained from independent measurements of the kinetic inductance and the exponent of the current-dependent resistance are in agreement. At the transition temperature T/sub c/, the critical value of the superfluid density agrees with theory for a finite measurement length. Experimental sensitivity is such that the resistance near T/sub c/, measured to be about 9 orders of magnitude below the normal resistance, is explained by the motion of a single thermally excited free vortex in a superfluid background renormalized by bound-vortex pairs. The corresponding critical magnetic field for flux entry is also measured. The resistance of the thermally excited free-vortex plasma and the correlation length above the transition temperature obey the qualitative prediction of the theory. Nonuniversal constants in the renormalization-group theory are obtained from the experiment and are found to be sample dependent.

• Research Organization: AT and T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974
• OSTI ID: 5369085
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 28:9; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360304* -- Composite Materials-- Physical Properties-- (-1987)
656102 -- Solid State Physics-- Superconductivity-- Acoustic
Electronic
Magnetic
Optical
& Thermal Phenomena-- (-1987)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRITICAL FIELD
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
FILMS
GROUP THEORY
INDIUM
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM OXIDES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RENORMALIZATION
SUPERCONDUCTING COMPOSITES
SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VORTICES