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Tunneling between dissimilar high-T(c) oxide superconductors.
T Imaizumi1, T Kawai, T Uchiyama
1Department of Physics and CREST-JST, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan.
Physical Review Letters
|July 5, 2002
Summary
This study details the first fabrication of high-temperature superconductor heterojunctions using YBCO and BSCCO. Josephson current flows between these dissimilar superconductors, with observed gap structures confirming conventional tunneling.
Area of Science:
- Solid State Physics
- Materials Science
- Superconductivity
Background:
- High-temperature superconductors (high-T(c)) exhibit complex electronic properties.
- Fabricating heterojunctions with dissimilar oxide electrodes is challenging.
- Understanding tunneling mechanisms in these materials is crucial for device applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first successful fabrication and measurement of high-T(c) heterojunctions using YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-y) (YBCO) and Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(y) (BSCCO) electrodes.
- To investigate the junction characteristics and tunneling behavior in these dissimilar superconductor interfaces.
- To explore the possibility of Josephson current flow and associated phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of superconductor-superconductor heterojunctions using YBCO and BSCCO.
- Electrical transport measurements, including tunneling resistance analysis.
- Characterization of zero-bias conductance peaks and gap structures.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication and measurement of YBCO/BSCCO heterojunctions.
- Observation of distinct junction characteristics dependent on tunnel resistance.
- Clear observation of double-gap structures at higher tunnel resistance, validating conventional tunneling.
- Detection of peculiar zero-bias conductance peaks.
- Confirmation of Josephson current flow between the dissimilar superconductors.
Conclusions:
- The conventional tunneling scheme is applicable to high-T(c) heterojunctions with different oxide electrodes.
- Josephson current can indeed flow between dissimilar high-T(c) superconductors like YBCO and BSCCO.
- These findings open avenues for novel superconducting electronic devices.