Quasiparticle trapping and the quasiparticle multiplier
Superconductors and in particular superconducting tunnel junctions can be used to detect phonons, electromagnetic radiation, x rays, and nuclear particles by the mechanism of Cooper-pair breaking to produce excess quasiparticles and phonons. We show that the sensitivity can be increased by a factor of 100 or more by trapping the quasiparticles in another superconductor of lower gap in the region of the tunnel junction. Moreover, if the ratio of the gap energies is >3 a multiplication process can occur due to the interaction of the relaxation phonons. This leads to the concept of the quasiparticle multiplier, a device which could have wider applications than the Gray effect transistor or the quiteron.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Nuclear Physics, University of Oxford, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH, United Kingdom
- OSTI ID:
- 6770253
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 50:5; ISSN APPLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COOPER PAIRS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY GAP
IONIZING RADIATIONS
JUNCTIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHONONS
QUASI PARTICLES
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SENSITIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TRANSISTORS
TRAPPING
TUNNEL EFFECT
USES
X RADIATION