Reversibility of Superconducting Nb Weak Links Driven by the Proximity Effect in a Quantum Interference Device

Abstract

We demonstrate the role of proximity effect in the thermal hysteresis of superconducting constrictions. From the analysis of successive thermal instabilities in the transport characteristics of micron-size superconducting quantum interference devices with a well-controlled geometry, we obtain a complete picture of the different thermal regimes. These determine whether the junctions are hysteretic or not. Below the superconductor critical temperature, the critical current switches from a classical weak-link behavior to one driven by the proximity effect. The associated small amplitude of the critical current makes it robust with respect to the heat generation by phase-slips, leading to a non-hysteretic behavior.

6 pages, 5 figures, including Supplementary Information

References in corpus (4)

• Diamondoid Molecules
• Proximity DC squids in the long junction limit
• A Terraced Scanning Superconducting Quantum Interference Device Susceptometer with Sub-Micron Pickup Loops
• Inherent stochasticity of superconductive-resistive switching in nanowires

Cited by in corpus (4)

• A high performance Nb nano-SQUID with a three-dimensional structure
• Controlling hysteresis in superconducting constrictions with a resistive shunt
• Stability of thermally bistable states and their switching in superconducting weak link
• A thermal model with AC Josephson effect for a shunted superconducting weak-link