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Thermoelectric Modeling of the Non-Ohmic Differential Conductance in a Tunnel Junction containing a Pinhole

Zhongsheng Zhang·David A. Rabson
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Abstract

To test the quality of a tunnel junction, one sometimes fits the bias-dependent differential conductance to a theoretical model, such as Simmons's formula. Recent experimental work by Åkerman and collaborators, however, has demonstrated that a good fit does not necessarily imply a good junction. Modeling the electrical and thermal properties of a tunnel junction containing a pinhole, we extract an effective barrier height and effective barrier width even when as much as 88% of the current flows through the pinhole short rather than tunneling. A good fit of differential conductance to a tunneling form therefore cannot rule out pinhole defects in normal-metal or magnetic tunnel junctions.

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Zhongsheng Zhang, David A. Rabson. 2003-08-12. Thermoelectric Modeling of the Non-Ohmic Differential Conductance in a Tunnel Junction containing a Pinhole. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1633341

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