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Superconducting properties of Nb/Ge metal semiconductor multilayers

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)
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We have made layered superconductors composed of alternating thin films of sputter-deposited Nb and Ge. Individual layer thicknesses range from 5 to 100 A, each sample containing from 50 to 80 Nb/Ge-layer pairs with a fixed thickness ratio, D/sub Nb//D/sub Ge/. As revealed by x-ray analysis, the samples have a distinct superlattice structure consisting of amorphous Ge layers and, except for those with D/sub Nb/<30 A, (110) textured polycrystalline Nb layers. Transport studies reveal that each Nb layer itself consists of a clean central portion with damaged regions at the Nb/Ge interfaces. A proximity-effect analysis of the samples indicates that the presence of this damaged Nb interfacial layer largely governs the observed transition temperatures of these multilayers. Measurement of the upper critical fields and fluctuation conductivity have confirmed both the dimensional and the temperature-dependent dimensional crossover effects expected in Josephson-coupled quasi-two-dimensional superconductors. The observed degree of control over interlayer coupling possible with these multilayers suggests they are a model system for the study of quasi-two-dimensional superconductivity.
Research Organization:
Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
OSTI ID:
6542779
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 26:9; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals &amp; Alloys-- Physical Properties
656102 -- Solid State Physics-- Superconductivity-- Acoustic
Electronic
Magnetic
Optical
&amp; Thermal Phenomena-- (-1987)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CLATHRATES
CRITICAL FIELD
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
FILMS
GERMANIUM
MAGNETIC FIELDS
METALS
NIOBIUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROXIMITY EFFECT
SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERLATTICES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE