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Bosonic Confinement and Coherence in Disordered Nanodiamond Arrays
Gufei Zhang1, Tomas Samuely2, Hongchu Du3,4
1INPAC-Insititute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
ACS Nano
|November 11, 2017
Summary
Disordered nanodiamond arrays reveal how localized Cooper pairs drive quantum phase transitions. This study links broken phase coherence to the emergence of a bosonic dirty metallic state, advancing our understanding of superconductivity in disordered systems.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Materials Science
Background:
- Superconductivity can exhibit short-range characteristics in disordered systems, leading to localized Cooper pairs and anomalous quantum states like the bosonic insulating state.
- Superconductor-normal hybrid arrays offer tunable granular disorder for studying quantum phase transitions, complementing homogeneous systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the superconductor-bosonic dirty metal transition in disordered nanodiamond arrays.
- Analyze the impact of intergrain spacing dispersion on superconducting properties and phase transitions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of disordered nanodiamond arrays with varying intergrain spacing.
- Measurement of superconducting gaps and coherence peaks in the single-quasiparticle density of states.
- Modeling resistive bosonic phase transitions using a series-parallel circuit framework.
Main Results:
- Observed evolution of superconducting gaps and diminished coherence peaks with increasing intergrain spacing dispersion.
- Linked the destruction of superconductivity and emergence of the bosonic dirty metallic state to broken global phase coherence.
- Demonstrated the persistence of localized Cooper pairs as a key factor in these transitions.
Conclusions:
- Disordered nanodiamond arrays provide a platform for studying the superconductor-bosonic dirty metal transition.
- Breaking of global phase coherence and persistence of localized Cooper pairs are critical for anomalous phase transitions.
- The series-parallel circuit model effectively describes bosonic confinement and coherence in these systems.
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