Quantum suppression of superconductivity in ultrathin nanowires

A. Bezryadin; C. N. Lau; M. Tinkham

doi:10.1038/35010060

paper

Quantum suppression of superconductivity in ultrathin nanowires

arXiv:cond-mat/0003198 · doi:10.1038/35010060

Abstract

We report measurements on ultrathin (<10 nm) nanowires produced by coating carbon nanotubes with a superconducting amorphous MoGe alloy. We find that nanowires can be superconducting or insulating depending on their normal state resistance $R_{N}$ compared to $R_{q} = h / (2 e)^{2}$ -- the quantum resistance for Cooper pairs. If $R_{N} < R_{q}$ the tunneling of quantum phase slips (QPS) is prohibited due to strong damping, and so the wires stay superconducting. The insulating state, observed if $R_{N} > R_{q}$ , is explained in terms of proliferation of quantum phase slips and corresponding localization of Cooper pairs. The observed superconductor-insulator transition is analogous to the dissipative phase transition which takes place in Josephson Junctions at $R_{N} = R_{q}$ (Penttila et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. Vol.82, p.1004, 1999)

14 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Nature

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Suppression of $\bbox{T_c}$ in superconducting amorphous wires

Quantum suppression of superconductivity in ultrathin nanowires

Abstract

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