arXiv subjects

D. J. Van Harlingen

Publications and source records attributed to D. J. Van Harlingen.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Spatially Selective and Reversible Doping Control in Cuprate Films

We describe a reversible, spatially-controlled doping method for cuprate films. The technique has been used to create superconductor-antiferromagnetic insulator-superconductor (S-AFI-S) junctions and optimally doped superconductor-underdoped superconductor-optimally doped superconductor (OS-US-OS) cuprate structures. We demonstrate how the S-AFI-S structure can be employed to reliably measure the transport properties of the antiferromagnetic insulator region at cryogenic temperatures using the superconductors as seamless electrical leads. We also discuss applied and fundamental issues which may be addressed with the structures created with this doping method. Although it is implemented on a cuprate film (YBa2Cu3O7-delta) in this work, the method can also be applied to any mixed-valence transition metal oxide whose physical properties are determined by oxygen content.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Spontaneous currents and half-integer Shapiro steps in Superconductor-Ferromagnet-Superconductor 0-pi Josephson junctions

We study Superconductor-Ferromagnet-Superconductor (Nb-Cu0.47 Ni0.53-Nb) Josephson junctions with spatial variations in the barrier thickness. Critical current vs. magnetic flux diffraction patterns indicate that the critical current density changes sign along the width of the junctions, creating interfaces between 0 and pi junction regions around which spontaneous currents can circulate. Shapiro steps observed at half-integer Josephson voltages can be explained by the phase-locking of the spontaneous circulating currents to the applied rf modulation.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

Decoherence in Josephson-junction qubits due to critical current fluctuations

We compute the decoherence caused by $1/f$ fluctuations at low frequency $f$ in the critical current $I_0$ of Josephson junctions incorporated into flux, phase, charge and hybrid flux-charge superconducting quantum bits (qubits). The dephasing time $τ_ϕ$ scales as $I_0/ ΩΛS_{I_0}^{1/2}(1$ Hz$)$, where $Ω/ 2π$ is the energy level splitting frequency, $S_{I_0}(1$ Hz$)$ is the spectral density of the critical current noise at 1 Hz, and $Λ\equiv |I_0 d Ω/ Ωd I_0|$ is a parameter computed for given parameters for each type of qubit that specifies the sensitivity of the level splitting to critical current fluctuations. Computer simulations show that the envelope of the coherent oscillations of any qubit after time $t$ scales as $\exp (-t^2/ 2 τ_ϕ^2)$ when the dephasing due to critical current noise dominates the dephasing from all sources of dissipation. We compile published results for fluctuations in the critical current of Josephson tunnel junctions fabricated with different technologies and a wide range in $I_0$ and $A$, and show that their values of $S_{I_0}(1$ Hz$)$ scale to within a factor of three of $[ 144 (I_0/μ{\rm A})^2/ (A/ μ{\rm m}^2)]($pA$)^2/$Hz at 4.2 K. We empirically extrapolate $S_{I_0}^{1/2}(1$ Hz$)$ to lower temperatures using a scaling $T($K$)/4.2$. Using this result, we find that the predicted values of $τ_ϕ$ at 100 mK range from 0.8 to 12 $μ$s, and are usually substantially longer than values measured experimentally at lower temperatures.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

Electronic Transport in Underdoped YBCO Nanowires: Possible Observation of Stripe Domains

We have measured the transport properties of a series of underdoped YBa2Cu3O7 nanowires fabricated with widths of 100-250 nm. We observe large telegraph-like fluctuations in the resistance between the pseudogap temperature T* and the superconducting transition temperature Tc, consistent with the formation and dynamics of a domain structure such as that created by charge stripes. We also find anomalous hysteretic steps in the current-voltage characteristics well below Tc.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

Measurement of the Current-Phase Relation of SFS pi-Josephson junctions

We present measurements of the current-phase relation (CPR) of Superconductor-Ferromagnet-Superconductor (SFS) Josephson junctions as a function of temperature. The CPR is determined by incorporating the junction into a superconducting loop coupled to a dc SQUID, allowing measurement of the junction phase difference. Junctions fabricated with a thin (~ 22 nm) barrier of Cu0.47Ni0.53 sandwiched between Nb electrodes exhibit a re-entrant critical current with temperature, vanishing at T =T_pi ~ 2-4 K. We find that the critical current is negative for T < T_pi, indicating that the junction is a pi-Josephson junction. We find no evidence for second-order Josephson tunneling near T_pi in the CPR predicted by several theories.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2003

Modifying the surface electronic properties of YBa2Cu3O7-delta with cryogenic scanning probe microscopy

We report the results of a cryogenic study of the modification of YBa2Cu3O7-delta surface electronic properties with the probe of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). A negative voltage applied to the sample during STM tunneling is found to modify locally the conductance of the native degraded surface layer. When the degraded layer is removed by etching, the effect disappears. An additional surface effect is identified using Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy in combination with STM. We observe reversible surface charging for both etched and unetched samples, indicating the presence of a defect layer even on a surface never exposed to air.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2003

Critical dynamics of superconducting BSCCO films

We report on a systematic investigation of the critical fluctuations in the complex conductivity of epitaxially-grown Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+δ}$ films for ${T \lesssim T_c}$ using a two-coil inductive technique at zero applied field. We observe the static 3D-XY critical exponent in the superfluid density near $T_{c}$. Linear scaling analysis close to the critical temperature yields a dynamic critical exponent of $z = 2.0$ for small drive currents, but non-linear effects are seen to be important. At $T_{c}$, a non-linear scaling analysis also yields a 3D dynamic exponent of $z = 2.0$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Non-Locality and Strong Coupling in the Heavy Fermion Superconductor CeCoIn$_{5}$: A Penetration Depth Study

We report measurements of the magnetic penetration depth $λ$ in single crystals of CeCoIn$_{5}$ down to $\sim$0.14 K using a tunnel-diode based, self-inductive technique at 28 MHz. While the in-plane penetration depth tends to follow a power law, $λ_{//} \sim {\it T}^{3/2}$, the data are better described as a crossover between linear ({\it T} $\gg $ ${\it T}^\ast $) and quadratic ({\it T} $\ll {\it T}^\ast $) behavior, with ${\it T}^\ast $ the crossover temperature in the strong-coupling limit. The {\it c}-axis penetration depth $λ_{\perp} $ is linear in {\it T}, providing evidence that CeCoIn$_{5}$ is a {\it d}-wave superconductor with line nodes along the {\it c}-axis. The different temperature dependences of $λ_{//} $ and $λ_{\perp} $ rule out impurity effects as the source of ${\it T}^{\ast} $.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Experimental test for subdominant superconducting phases with complex order parameters in cuprate grain boundary junctions

We propose and implement a direct experimental test for subdominant superconducting phases with broken time-reversal symmetry in d-wave superconductors. The critical current of 45-degree asymmetric grain boundary junctions are shown to be extremely sensitive to the predicted onset of a complex order parameter at (110)-surfaces and near magnetic impurities. Measurements in YBCO and Ni-doped YBCO junctions indicate that the symmetry at the surface is consistent with pure d-wave at all temperatures, putting limits on the magnitude and chiral domain structure of any subdominant symmetry component.

cond-mat.supr-con↗