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Fabrication and Characterization of Superconducting Resonators
Published on: May 21, 2016
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Enhancing superconductivity in SrTiO3 films with strain
Kaveh Ahadi1, Luca Galletti1, Yuntian Li2
1Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5050, USA.
Science Advances
|April 30, 2019
Summary
Superconductivity in strontium titanate (SrTiO3) is enhanced by strain, suggesting a link between superconductivity and ferroelectricity. This finding opens new avenues for increasing critical temperatures in oxide superconductors.
Area of Science:
- Solid State Physics
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) was the first discovered oxide superconductor, yet its superconducting mechanisms remain debated.
- SrTiO3 exhibits incipient ferroelectricity, leading to theoretical suggestions of a link between superconductivity and ferroelectric properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential relationship between superconductivity and ferroelectricity in SrTiO3.
- To explore methods for enhancing the superconducting transition temperature in oxide materials.
Main Methods:
- Growth of strained, epitaxial SrTiO3 thin films, designed to undergo a ferroelectric transition.
- Systematic variation of carrier densities in the films.
- Measurement of superconducting transition temperatures and analysis of resistive states.
Main Results:
- Superconducting transition temperature (Tc) was enhanced by up to a factor of two in strained SrTiO3 films compared to unstrained films.
- Superconductivity emerged from a resistive state in the strained films.
- Localization behavior was observed in proximity to ferroelectricity.
Conclusions:
- The study provides evidence for a connection between ferroelectricity and enhanced superconductivity in SrTiO3.
- Strain engineering in SrTiO3 films offers a promising route to increase superconducting transition temperatures.
- These findings suggest new strategies for developing advanced oxide superconductors.
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