Cooper-pair insulator phase in superconducting amorphous Bi films induced by nanometer-scale thickness variations
S. M. Hollen, H. Q. Nguyen, E. Rudisaile, M. D. Stewart, Jr., J. Shainline, J. M. Xu, J. M. Valles, Jr.
DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.84.064528 · Physical Review B
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Abstract
Ultrathin films near the quantum insulator-superconductor transition (IST) can exhibit Cooper-pair transport in their insulating state. This Cooper-pair insulator (CPI) state is achieved in amorphous Bi films evaporated onto substrates with a topography varying on lengths slightly greater than the superconducting coherence length. We present evidence that this topography induces film thickness and corresponding superconducting coupling constant variations that promote Cooper-pair island formation. Analyses of many thickness-tuned ISTs show that weak links between superconducting islands dominate the transport. In particular, the IST occurs when the link resistance approaches the resistance quantum for pairs. These results support conjectures that the CPI is an inhomogeneous state of matter.
Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval
| Formula | Reported Tc (K) | Pressure (GPa) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bi Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula. | 6 | Pressure not reported | unknown |
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