Giant nonlinearity of kinetic inductance in superconducting hybrid strip

Abstract

We demonstrate giant nonlinearity of the kinetic inductance $L_k$ in a superconducting NbN/Al hybrid strip. In contrast to ordinary superconductors, where the maximum observed current-induced variation of $L_k$ does not exceed tens of percent, we observe a 50-fold change in $L_k$. Physically, this effect is connected with the proximity-induced superconductivity in the Al layer and the specific choice of parameters for which the dependence of the superconducting current $I$ on the Cooper pair momentum $\hslash q$ exhibits a plateau at a current $I^{\ast }$ {\it well below} the depairing current. Formally, this leads to $L_k\sim dq/dI\to \infty$ as $I\to I^{\ast }$. We believe that our results open a new route for creating the next generation of highly sensitive detectors of electromagnetic radiation, calorimeters, parametric amplifiers, and magnetometers.

arXiv comment8 pages, 6 figures