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Metal-Semiconductor Junctions

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The contact of metal and semiconductor can lead to the formation of a junction with either Schottky or Ohmic behavior.
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Schottky barriers arise when a metal with a work function (Φm) contacts a semiconductor with a different work function (Φs). Initially, electrons transfer until the Fermi levels of the metal and semiconductor align at equilibrium. For instance, if Φm > Φs, the semiconductor Fermi level is higher than the metal's before contact. The semiconductor's...

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Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform

Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform

Published on: August 2, 2019

Ge/Si nanowire mesoscopic Josephson junctions.

Jie Xiang¹, A Vidan, M Tinkham

¹Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.

Nature Nanotechnology

|July 26, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers explored quantum confinement in germanium/silicon core/shell nanowires (NWs) to study superconductivity. They tuned critical supercurrent using gate voltage, observing stepwise increases due to quantum effects and coherent charge transport.

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Area of Science:

Condensed Matter Physics
Materials Science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Quantum confinement in nanostructures is crucial for fundamental physics.
Superconducting properties in semiconductor-nanowire heterostructures are of significant interest.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate proximity-induced superconductivity in undoped Ge/Si core/shell nanowires (NWs).
Explore the tunability of critical supercurrent via gate-controlled carrier density.
Analyze quantum confinement effects on superconductivity in NWs.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of Ge/Si core/shell NW heterostructures.
Contacting NWs with superconducting leads.
Utilizing a top gate electrode to modulate carrier density.
Performing low-temperature transport measurements.

Main Results:

Tunable critical supercurrent from zero to over 100 nA.
Stepwise increases in critical current attributed to discrete sub-bands from radial confinement.
Observation of high-order (n=25) resonant multiple Andreev reflections.
Evidence of smooth NW channels and highly coherent charge transport.

Conclusions:

Demonstrated control over superconducting states in semiconductor-superconductor hybrid nanostructures.
Highlighted the role of quantum confinement in modulating superconductivity.
Opened new avenues for studying low-dimensional superconductivity and coherent quantum phenomena.