학술논문

Characterization of Josephson and quasi-particle currents in MgB2/MgB2 and Pb/Pb contact junctions.
Document Type
Article
Source
Superconductor Science & Technology. Jul2010, Vol. 23 Issue 7, p075003-075003. 1p.
Subject
*JOSEPHSON effect
*QUASIPARTICLES
*MAGNESIUM diboride
*SEMICONDUCTOR junctions
*LEAD compounds
*THIN films
*SUBHARMONIC functions
*HIGH temperatures
Language
ISSN
0953-2048
Abstract
The electrical properties of Josephson junctions formed by pressing two oxidized MgB2 thin films together were measured. This fabrication method allowed us to characterize the properties of MgB2 junctions with native or thermal oxide barriers without exposing the barrier and bottom electrode to the high temperature deposition process required to synthesize the top MgB2 electrode in the conventional trilayer junctions. These junctions, with electrode Tcs of [?] 32 K, have critical currents up to [?] 25 K, broadened energy gaps at over 30 K, subharmonic gap structures at moderate voltages ([?]0.6-2.0 mV) and Fiske modes at low voltage (<0.6 mV). We show that this method can be used to quantify the barrier properties and the extent of suppression of the superconductor order parameter at the surface. Our results suggest that the near interface superconducting order parameter is reduced at both native and thermal oxide surfaces, with a greater reduction at the thermal oxide surface. For comparison, the same experimental equipment and protocol were used to investigate Pb contact junctions. The junctions containing a thermal oxide barrier were found to have electrical properties similar to those of multiply connected junctions modulated by their self-field, as initially observed by Clarke and Fulton in a SLUG (superconducting low inductance undulatory galvanometer) (Clarke and Fulton 1969 J. Appl. Phys. 40 4470). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]