Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2025
05:39
Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform
Published on: August 2, 2019
9.8K
Spin-Mixing Enhanced Proximity Effect in Aluminum-Based Superconductor-Semiconductor Hybrids
Grzegorz P Mazur1, Nick van Loo1, Ji-Yin Wang1
1QuTech and Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2600 GA, The Netherlands.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|June 9, 2022
Summary
Adding platinum adatoms to aluminum films significantly enhances their critical magnetic field, improving superconducting quantum circuit performance. This breakthrough enables robust topological qubit development and high-field applications.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Computing
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Aluminum is a key material for superconducting quantum circuits and topological qubits.
- Aluminum-based devices exhibit limited compatibility with magnetic fields, hindering their application range.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the magnetic field resilience of aluminum films for quantum applications.
- To investigate the mechanism behind the enhanced critical field in aluminum films.
- To explore the potential of Al/Pt hybrids in semiconductor-superconductor devices.
Main Methods:
- Thin aluminum films were modified with heavy element adatoms (e.g., platinum).
- Tunnel junctions were used to analyze the critical field and spin-orbit scattering.
- Semiconductor-superconductor hybrid devices (InSb nanowires coupled to Al/Pt) were fabricated and tested.
- Non-local spectroscopy and measurements of the two-electron charging effect were performed.
Main Results:
- Platinum adatoms increased the critical field of aluminum films by over a factor of two.
- Spin-orbit scattering introduced by platinum was identified as the source of enhanced field resilience.
- Superconductivity in InSb nanowires coupled to Al/Pt films was maintained up to 7 T.
- The two-electron charging effect remained robust, and sub-gap states were absent in hybrid devices.
- Proximitized semiconductor states retained their Zeeman-splitting ability.
Conclusions:
- Al/Pt films offer superior high-field resilience compared to pure aluminum.
- This material system is a promising alternative for superconducting quantum circuits and topological qubits requiring magnetic field compatibility.
- Al/Pt hybrids enable robust superconducting proximity effects in semiconductor-superconductor devices.
More Related Videos
09:06Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Published on: March 24, 2019
8.2K
07:42Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains
Published on: July 20, 2022
2.9K
Related Concept Videos
01:28Types Of Superconductors
1.1K
A superconductor is a substance that offers zero resistance to the electric current when it drops below a critical temperature. Zero resistance is not the only interesting phenomenon as materials reach their transition temperatures. A second effect is the exclusion of magnetic fields. This is known as the Meissner effect. A light, permanent magnet placed over a superconducting sample will levitate in a stable position above the superconductor. High-speed trains that levitate on strong...
1.1K
01:08NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
1.7K
The spin state of an NMR-active nucleus can have a slight effect on its immediate electronic environment. This effect propagates through the intervening bonds and affects the electronic environments of NMR-active nuclei up to three bonds away; occasionally, even farther. This phenomenon is called spin–spin coupling or J-coupling. Coupling interactions are mutual and result in small changes in the absorption frequencies of both nuclei involved. While nuclei of the same element are involved...
1.7K
01:27Biasing of Metal-Semiconductor Junctions
345
Biasing metal-semiconductor junctions involves applying a voltage across the junction. Specifically, the metal is connected to a voltage source, while the semiconductor is grounded. This technique is essential for controlling the direction and magnitude of current flow in electronic devices, including diodes, transistors, and photovoltaic cells.
In Schottky junctions, where the semiconductor is n-type, applying a positive voltage to the metal relative to the semiconductor reduces its Fermi...
In Schottky junctions, where the semiconductor is n-type, applying a positive voltage to the metal relative to the semiconductor reduces its Fermi...
345
01:08Spin–Spin Coupling Constant: Overview
1.0K
In bromoethane, the three methyl protons are coupled to the two methylene protons that are three bonds away. In accordance with the n+1 rule, the signal from the methyl protons is split into three peaks with 1:2:1 relative intensities. The methylene protons appear as a quartet, with the relative intensities of 1:3:3:1.
Qualitatively, any spin plus-half nucleus polarizes the spins of its electrons to the minus-half state. Consequently, the paired electron in the hydrogen–carbon bond must...
Qualitatively, any spin plus-half nucleus polarizes the spins of its electrons to the minus-half state. Consequently, the paired electron in the hydrogen–carbon bond must...
1.0K
01:20Spin–Spin Coupling: Two-Bond Coupling (Geminal Coupling)
1.2K
Two NMR-active nuclei bonded to a central atom can be involved in geminal or two-bond coupling. Geminal coupling is commonly seen between diastereotopic protons in chiral molecules and unsymmetrical alkenes, among others.
The central atom need not be NMR-active because its electrons are affected by the electron polarization of the spin-active atoms. However, spin information is transmitted less effectively than in one-bond coupling, and 2J values are usually weaker than 1J values. The energy of...
The central atom need not be NMR-active because its electrons are affected by the electron polarization of the spin-active atoms. However, spin information is transmitted less effectively than in one-bond coupling, and 2J values are usually weaker than 1J values. The energy of...
1.2K
01:17Spin–Spin Coupling: One-Bond Coupling
1.1K
Coupling interactions are strongest between NMR-active nuclei bonded to each other, where spin information can be transmitted directly through the pair of bonding electrons. While nuclei polarize their electrons to the opposite spins, the bonding electron pair has opposite spins. Configurations with antiparallel nuclear spins are expected to be lower in energy. When coupling makes antiparallel states more favorable, J is considered to have a positive value. The one-bond coupling constant, 1J,...
1.1K