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Light-induced current in Cooper pair insulators in NbTiN films
Alexey Mironov1, Valerii Vinokur2
1Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
Scientific Reports
|November 20, 2025
Summary
Superinsulating films, unlike superconductors, interact strongly with light. NbTiN films exhibit a light-induced current, enabling high-precision light detection at millikelvin temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Phenomena
Background:
- Superconductors (macroscopic Cooper pairs systems) exhibit minimal interaction with visible light due to current-induced screening.
- Superinsulators, characterized by localized Cooper pairs, show significant light interaction, offering novel applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the light interaction properties of superinsulating films, specifically NbTiN.
- To explore the potential of NbTiN films as highly sensitive light detectors at extremely low temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of NbTiN thin films in a superinsulating state.
- Irradiation of the NbTiN film with visible light at millikelvin temperatures.
- Measurement of the light-induced electrical current and its dependence on radiation intensity, temperature, and wavelength.
Main Results:
- NbTiN superinsulating films demonstrate a measurable light-induced current when irradiated with visible light.
- The induced current intensity is directly dependent on the incident light intensity.
- The light-induced current diminishes with increasing temperature and light wavelength.
Conclusions:
- NbTiN superinsulating films provide a unique platform for developing high-sensitivity light detectors operating at millikelvin temperatures.
- The light-induced current in these films allows for high-precision measurements of light intensity.
- This phenomenon highlights a distinct interaction mechanism between light and localized Cooper pairs in superinsulators.
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