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Break Junction Tunneling Spectroscopy of Single-Crystal Bismuth-Based High-Temperature Superconductors

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Advances in Cryogenic Engineering Materials

Abstract

We have measured the tunneling spectra of some high temperature superconducting crystal break junctions at 4 K. The samples were thin plates of Bi2SrCa2Cu2O8 compound. The tunneling spectra (conductance versus voltage) were not typical of BCS superconductor tunneling electrodes. The spectra of higher-resistance break-junction settings (R > 1 MΩ) show a tunneling gap on top of a linearly increasing conductance background signal. “Harmonic” dip features in the spectra of lower resistance break junction settings (R < 1 MΩ) indicated tunneling between multiple particles in the vicinity of the primary (highest resistance) contact of the junction. The dips occurred at about the same current but shifted in voltage when the resistance of the break junction was continuously adjusted to new settings.

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References

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© 1990 Plenum Press, New York

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Moreland, J., Chiang, C.K., Swartzendruber, L.J. (1990). Break Junction Tunneling Spectroscopy of Single-Crystal Bismuth-Based High-Temperature Superconductors. In: Reed, R.P., Fickett, F.R. (eds) Advances in Cryogenic Engineering Materials . An International Cryogenic Materials Conference Publication, vol 36. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9880-6_80

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9880-6_80

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-9882-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-9880-6

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