Switching currents limited by single phase slips in one-dimensional superconducting Al nanowires.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

An aluminum nanowire switches from superconducting to normal as the current is increased in an upsweep. The switching current (I(s)) averaged over upsweeps approximately follows the depairing critical current (I(c)) but falls below it. Fluctuations in I(s) exhibit three distinct regions of behaviors and are nonmonotonic in temperature: saturation well below the critical temperature T(c), an increase as T(2/3) at intermediate temperatures, and a rapid decrease close to T(c). Heat dissipation analysis indicates that a single phase slip is able to trigger switching at low and intermediate temperatures, whereby the T(2/3) dependence arises from the thermal activation of a phase slip, while saturation at low temperatures provides striking evidence that the phase slips by macroscopic quantum tunneling.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Li, P; Wu, PM; Bomze, Y; Borzenets, IV; Finkelstein, G; Chang, AM

Published Date

  • September 2011

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 107 / 13

Start / End Page

  • 137004 -

PubMed ID

  • 22026893

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1079-7114

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0031-9007

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1103/physrevlett.107.137004

Language

  • eng