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Current-voltage characteristics of superconducting weak links in the high current regime

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6203517

The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of tin and niobium weak links with a variable-thickness, Dayem-bridge geometry have been studied in the realm of high current-bias. The observation of structure appearing in the dc I-V curve was conducted as a function of temperature, externally applied microwave radiation, and magnetic field. A computer-based data acquisition and control system was created to operate in conjunction with the high-sensitivity analog instrumentation utilized to perform these measurements. Software that was suitable for use in several low-temperature experiments was developed for real-time, computer-aided data collection and analysis. The microbridges that were studied all exhibited the classical dc and ac Josephson effects. In addition, at high current-bias, several classifications of structure were found in the I-V characteristics of these bridges.

Research Organization:
Virginia Univ., Charlottesville (USA)
OSTI ID:
6203517
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English