Photon-assisted vortex depairing in two-dimensional superconductors

A. M. Kadin; M. Leung; A. D. Smith

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.65.3193

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Photon-assisted vortex depairing in two-dimensional superconductors

A. M. Kadin, M. Leung, A. D. Smith

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.65.3193 · Physical Review Letters

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Abstract

We propose a novel quantum detection mechanism for photon absorption in a two-dimensional superconductor that exhibits a vortex-unbinding transition. Well below the transition, absorption of a single photon of energy hf can result in the creation of a vortex-antivortex pair, which can be broken apart in an applied current, thus transferring a single flux quantum Φ0 across the film. This results in a quantum-limited voltage responsivity Φ0/hf=1/2ef, and may account for some reports of enhanced nonbolometric detection of infrared radiation in thin granular superconducting films.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Formula	Reported Tc (K)	Pressure (GPa)	Type
Sn Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
BaPb0.7Bi0.3O3 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
NbN Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
YBa2Cu3O Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown