Superconductivity-Related Insulating Behavior

Abstract

We present the results of an experimental study of superconducting, disordered, thin-films of amorphous Indium Oxide. These films can be driven from the superconducting phase to a reentrant insulating state by the application of a perpendicular magnetic field ($B$). We find that the high-$B$ insulator exhibits activated transport with a characteristic temperature, $T_I$. $T_I$ has a maximum value ($T_I^p$) that is close to the superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) at $B$ = 0, suggesting a possible relation between the conduction mechanisms in the superconducting and insulating phases. $T_I^p$ and $T_c$ display opposite dependences on the disorder strength.

Tex file and 5 figures; Revised version; To appear in Phys. Rev. Lett. (2004)