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Title: Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings

Abstract

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter’s free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg–Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
1361408
Grant/Contract Number:  
FG02-08ER46482
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nature Communications
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; superconducting devices; superconducting properties and materials

Citation Formats

Petković, Ivana, Lollo, A., Glazman, L. I., and Harris, J. G. E. Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1038/ncomms13551.
Petković, Ivana, Lollo, A., Glazman, L. I., & Harris, J. G. E. Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13551
Petković, Ivana, Lollo, A., Glazman, L. I., and Harris, J. G. E. Thu . "Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13551. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1361408.
@article{osti_1361408,
title = {Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings},
author = {Petković, Ivana and Lollo, A. and Glazman, L. I. and Harris, J. G. E.},
abstractNote = {The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter’s free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg–Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity.},
doi = {10.1038/ncomms13551},
journal = {Nature Communications},
number = ,
volume = 7,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Thu Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

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journal, December 2019

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Development of a Superconducting Differential Double Contour Interferometer
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