Nanoscale Proximity Effect in the High-Temperature Superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ Using a Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Journal Article · Mon Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.117001· OSTI ID:1040397

Parker, C V; Gu, G; Pushp, A; Pasupathy, A N; Gomes, K K; Wen, J; Xu, Z; Ono, S; Yazdani, A

High-temperature cuprate superconductors exhibit extremely local nanoscale phenomena and strong sensitivity to doping. While other experiments have looked at nanoscale interfaces between layers of different dopings, we focus on the interplay between naturally inhomogeneous nanoscale regions. Using scanning tunneling microscopy to carefully track the same region of the sample as a function of temperature, we show that regions with weak superconductivity can persist to elevated temperatures if bordered by regions of strong superconductivity. This suggests that it may be possible to increase the maximum possible transition temperature by controlling the distribution of dopants.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 1040397
• Report Number(s): BNL-91280-2010-JA; PRLTAO; R&D Project: PO-010; KC0202010; TRN: US1202423
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 11; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CUPRATES
DISTRIBUTION
MICROSCOPES
PROXIMITY EFFECT
SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY
SENSITIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
TUNNELING