Superconducting Tunnel Junctions Research Articles

Unneling Barrier Thickness Dependence of Spin Polarization of Ferromagnet in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

Abstract For designing low-impedance magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), it has been found that tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) strongly correlates with the insulating barrier thickness, imposing a fundamental question on the relationship between spin polarization of ferromagnet and the insulating barrier thickness in MTJs. Here, we investigate the influence of alumina barrier thickness on tunneling spin polarization (TSP) through a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental verification. Our simulating results reveal a significant impact of barrier thickness on TSP, exhibiting an oscillating decay of TSP with the barrier layer thinning. Experimental verification is realized on FeNi/AlO$_x$/Al superconducting tunnel junctions to directly probe the spin polarization of FeNi ferromagnet using Zeeman-split tunneling spectroscopy technique. These findings provide valuable insights for the design of high-performance spintronic devices, particularly in applications such as MRAM, where precise control over the insulating barrier layer is crucial.

Tunable thermoelectric superconducting heat pipe and diode

Abstract Efficient heat management at cryogenic temperatures is crucial for superconducting quantum technologies. This study demonstrates the controlled manipulation of the heat flow and heat rectification through an asymmetric superconducting tunnel junction. The system exhibits a non-reciprocal behavior, developing a thermoelectric regime exclusively when the electrode with the larger gap is heated. This feature significantly boosts thermal rectification effectively classifying the device as a heat diode. At the same time when operating as a thermoelectric engine, the same device also functions as a heat pipe, expelling heat from the cryogenic environment, minimizing losses at the cold terminal. This dual functionality is inherently passive, and the performance of the heat pipe and the heat diode can be finely adjusted by modifying the external electrical load.

Josephson effect in a Fibonacci quasicrystal

Quasiperiodicity has recently been proposed to enhance superconductivity and its proximity effect. Simultaneously, there has been significant experimental progress in the fabrication of quasiperiodic structures, including in reduced dimensions. Motivated by these developments, we use microscopic tight-binding theory to investigate the DC Josephson effect through a ballistic Fibonacci chain attached to two superconducting leads. The Fibonacci chain is one of the most-studied examples of quasicrystals, hosting a rich multifractal spectrum, containing topological gaps with different winding numbers. We study how the Andreev-bound states (ABS), current-phase relation, and the critical current depend on the quasiperiodic degrees of freedom, from short to long junctions. While the current-phase relation shows a traditional 2π sinusoidal or sawtooth profile, we find that the ABS develop quasiperiodic oscillations and that the Andreev reflection is qualitatively altered, leading to quasiperiodic oscillations in the critical current as a function of junction length. Surprisingly, despite earlier proposals of quasiperiodicity enhancing superconductivity compared to crystalline junctions, we do not, in general, find that it enhances the critical current. However, we find significant current enhancement for reduced interface transparency because of the modified Andreev reflection. Furthermore, by varying the chemical potential, e.g., by an applied gate voltage, we find a fractal oscillation between superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) and superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) behavior. Finally, we show that the winding of the subgap states leads to an equivalent winding in the critical current, such that the winding numbers, and thus the topological invariant, can be determined. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Investigation of signal coupling circuit for NbN-based SIS mixer operated at 650 GHz

Superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers are the most sensitive coherent detectors in the terahertz region and are extensively utilized in astronomical research and atmospheric observation. In order to improve the detection accuracy of frequency, reduce the loss of signal in the transmission path, and reduce noise temperature, it is important to design a signal coupling circuit with high coupling efficiency. In this paper, with the help of a high-frequency structure simulator, a signal coupling circuit was designed based on a waveguide NbN-based SIS mixer at 650 GHz. The return loss and embedding impedance of this SIS mixer were investigated from 600 to 720 GHz. The effects of the SIS mixer chip’s bow-tie probe angle, substrate thickness, and chip slot height were calculated and analyzed. The results show that the return loss is lower than -16 dB in the 600 to 720 GHz band, and the embedding impedance is around 60 Ω, which can provide a good reference for the development of waveguide SIS mixers.

A new LHe-free cryostat for the heterodyne SIS receiver for the Leighton Chajnantor Telescope

Abstract The Leighton Chajnantor Telescope (LCT) is an international collaborative program among Caltech, Shanghai Normal University (ShNU), and Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), aiming at the refurbishment and relocation of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) telescope from Mauna Kea, Hawaii, to the Chajnantor Plateau, northern Chile. A suite of excellent-sensitivity heterodyne superconductor–insulator–superconductor (SIS) receivers will be deployed to the telescope as the first set of instrumentations for high-resolution spectral observation. However, the current refrigeration technology for this receiver utilizes liquid helium (LHe), which greatly increases the cost of cooling and labor. To address this problem, a new LHe-free cryostat for the LCT heterodyne SIS receiver has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Mechanical and thermal analyses were performed to ensure that the cryostat meets the requirements of the telescope pointing accuracy and the SIS junction working environment, respectively. The experiment testing results are in good agreement with the calculation and analysis, indicating that the proposed LHe-free cryostat meets the operational requirements of the telescope at the new site.

Effect of the Post‐Annealing Temperature on the Interfacial Reaction Between a High TC Superconductor and Topological Insulator

AbstractThis work reports the formation of a heterojunction composed of Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 (Tl‐2212) and Bi2Se3 as the high critical temperature superconductor and topological insulator, respectively. The Bi2Se3 film is deposited on the Tl‐2212 by a chemical mechanical polishing process. Due to the rough surface of Tl‐2212, the treated Tl‐2212 is then subjected to post‐annealing at various temperatures. This temperature does not affect the formation of the interfacial layer at the heterojunction; however, an improved layered crystal structure of the Bi2Se3 film is observed at 500 °C. The in‐depth profile of the relative atomic concentration indicates the diffusion of Cu and Tl into the Bi2Se3 film with the Ba diffusion being closer to the interfacial layer. At 500 °C, Cu atoms are more actively diffused into the Bi2Se3 film, thus blocking Tl diffusion, and improving the layered crystal structure of the film. The density functional theory calculations reveal that the lowest formation energy of the Cu vacancy is when Bi2Se3 is in contact with Tl‐2212, which results in the diffusion of Cu atoms from Tl‐2212, thus transforming the interstitial Cu atoms into the film. These atoms have an n‐type doping effect and prefer intercalating at a vdW gap deep inside the layered Bi2Se3.

Signatures of Majorana bound states in the diffraction patterns of extended superconductor–topological insulator–superconductor Josephson junctions

Signatures of Majorana bound states in the diffraction patterns of extended superconductor–topological insulator–superconductor Josephson junctions

Terahertz high-sensitivity SIS mixer based on Nb–AlN–NbN hybrid superconducting tunnel junctions

The terahertz band, a unique segment of the electromagnetic spectrum, is crucial for observing the cold, dark universe and plays a pivotal role in cutting-edge scientific research, including the study of cosmic environments that support life and imaging black holes. High-sensitivity superconductor–insulator–superconductor (SIS) mixers are essential detectors for terahertz astronomical telescopes and interferometric arrays. Compared to the commonly used classical Nb/AlO x /Nb superconducting tunnel junction, the Nb/AlN/NbN hybrid superconducting tunnel junction has a higher energy gap voltage and can achieve a higher critical current density. This makes it particularly promising for the development of ultra-wideband, high-sensitivity coherent detectors or mixers in various scientific research fields. In this paper, we present a superconducting SIS mixer based on Nb/AlN/NbN parallel-connected twin junctions (PCTJ), which has a bandwidth extending up to 490 GHz–720 GHz. The best achieved double-sideband (DSB) noise temperature (sensitivity) is below three times the quantum noise level.

Why Shot Noise Does Not Generally Detect Pairing in Mesoscopic Superconducting Tunnel Junctions.

The shot noise in tunneling experiments reflects the Poissonian nature of the tunneling process. The shot-noise power is proportional to both the magnitude of the current and the effective charge of the carrier. Shot-noise spectroscopy thus enables us, in principle, to determine the effective charge q of the charge carriers of that tunnel. This can be used to detect electron pairing in superconductors: In the normal state, the noise corresponds to single electron tunneling (q=1e), while in the paired state, the noise corresponds to q=2e. Here, we use a newly developed amplifier to reveal that in typical mesoscopic superconducting junctions, the shot noise does not reflect the signatures of pairing and instead stays at a level corresponding to q=1e. We show that transparency can control the shot noise, and this q=1e is due to the large number of tunneling channels with each having very low transparency. Our results indicate that in typical mesoscopic superconducting junctions, one should expect q=1e noise and lead to design guidelines for junctions that allow the detection of electron pairing.

Deconfined criticalities and dualities between chiral spin liquid, topological superconductor and charge density wave Chern insulator

We propose bi-critical and tri-critical theories between chiral spin liquid (CSL), topological superconductor (SC) and charge density wave (CDW) ordered Chern insulator with Chern number C=2C=2 on square, triangular and Kagome lattices. The three CDW order parameters form a manifold of S^2S2 or S^1S1 depending on whether there is easy-plane anisotropy. The skyrmion defect of the CDW order carries physical charge 2e2e and its condensation leads to a topological superconductor. The CDW-SC transitions are in the same universality classes as the celebrated deconfined quantum critical points (DQCP) between Neel order and valence bond solid order on square lattice. Both SC and CDW order can be accessed from the CSL phase through a continuous phase transition. At the CSL-SC transition, there is still CDW order fluctuations although CDW is absent in both sides. We propose three different theories for the CSL-SC transition (and CSL to easy-plane CDW transition): a U(1)U(1) theory with two bosons, a U(1)U(1) theory with two Dirac fermions, and an SU(2)SU(2) theory with two bosons. Our construction offers a derivation of the duality between these three theories as well as a promising physical realization. The SU(2)SU(2) theory offers a unified framework for a series of fixed points with explicit SO(5), O(4)SO(5),O(4) or SO(3)× O(2)SO(3)×O(2) symmetry. There is also a transparent duality transformation mapping SC order to easy-plane CDW order. The CSL-SC-CDW tri-critical points are invariant under this duality mapping and have an enlarged SO(5)SO(5) or O(4)O(4) symmetry. The DQCPs between CDW and SC inherit the enlarged symmetry, emergent anomaly, and self-duality from the tri-critical point. Our analysis unifies the well-studied DQCP between symmetry breaking phases into a larger framework where they are proximate to a topologically ordered phase. Experimentally the theory demonstrates the possibility of a rich phase diagram and criticality through closing the Mott gap of a quantum spin liquid with projective symmetry group.

Ferroelectric-driven disorder inducing transition of bosonic insulator–superconductor in TiN/Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 heterojunction

Unique quantum states induced by disorders can be characterized by quantum phase transitions in many-body systems. In this study, we experimentally observed a sharp resistance peak near the superconducting transition in superconductor/ferroelectric TiN/Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 heterostructures. The peak is attributed to the disorder introduced by ferroelectric fluctuations within the empirical model of metal–boson insulator–superconductor transitions. By modulating the quantum phase transitions in superconductivity and competing with the disorder through ferroelectric polarization, we provide a versatile platform for investigating the influence of ferroelectric materials on superconducting states.

Refined Majorana phase diagram in a topological insulator–superconductor hybrid system

Refined Majorana phase diagram in a topological insulator–superconductor hybrid system

Metal–insulator–superconductor transition in nickelate-based heterostructures driven by topotactic reduction

The discovery of superconductivity in doped infinite-layer nickelates has attracted great interest recently. Here, a metal–insulator–superconductor transition is demonstrated by engineering the process of topotactic reduction. By employing topotactic reduction, a superconducting Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 layer is obtained from high-quality Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3, which is characterized by layer-by-layer growth and low room-temperature resistivity, rather than the low-quality Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3 with mixed phases. Moreover, an insulating intermediate state is uncovered within the transition from metallic Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3 to superconducting Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2, corresponding to a non-monotonic modulation of resistivity driven by topotactic reduction. In the incompletely reduced Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2+δ, residual oxygen atoms in the Nd/Sr plane disrupt the long-range order of the infinite-layer structure, resulting in suppressed superconductivity with a low transition temperature and non-zero residual resistivity. On the other hand, the superconductivity is optimized in the fully reduced sample, where a sign change in the Hall coefficient is always observed at low temperatures. Our study highlights the diverse electronic states achievable by controlling topotactic reduction, providing valuable insight into the understanding and manipulating of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates.

Research on Thermal Expansion Characteristics Measurement of Launch Lock Mechanism for SIS Mixer’s Space Application

The High Sensitivity Terahertz Detection Module (HSTDM) is one of the scientific payloads of the Chinese Space Survey Telescope. The core of the HSTDM is the NbN superconducting SIS (Superconductor Insulator Superconductor) mixer, operating around 10 K. The installation structure of the SIS mixer needs to be specially designed to cope with the mechanical vibration during the launch phase and the thermal insulation requirements during the operation phase. Material thermal expansion characteristics investigation based on low-temperature LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) measurement and scratch marking measurement were carried out to confirm the validity of the thermal expansion lock mechanism design. The two methods are cross verified. The LVDT experimental measurement results show that the shrinkage rate of Teflon changes with temperature and meets the theoretical model. At the same time, we verified the LVDT results with scratch marking method. Consistently, the shrinkage rate of the material is 1.86% at 80 K, so the Teflon front-end lock mechanism of the SIS mixer can achieve effective separation after cooling down.

Structure of aluminum films for creating tunnel junctions.

A series of studies of the structure of aluminum films deposited on single-crystalsilicon substrates in different temperature conditions. The roughness and grain size of films of nuclei 20 nm thick, deposited at elevated temperatures, and also dusted on top of the seed layer at room temperature to a thickness of 150 nm. The film profile was measured in an electron microscope. It was found that films on the hot sublayer turn out to be smoother, more rigid (less loose) and allow one to expect the creation of superconductor–insulator–superconductor and superconductor–insulator–normal metal transitions, respectively, with a higher current density and lower capacitance.

Design of superconducting integrated matching structures.

Superconducting integrated structures intended for matching generator impedances based on a distributed Josephson junction and detector based on a superconductor–insulator–superconductor tunnel junction in the subterahertz frequency range. The structures were modeled using the transfer matrix method. The designs were calculated in a three-dimensional numerical modeling program. A qualitative agreement was found between the results obtained by the two methods. Three designs have been designed with various topologies covering the frequency range 250...680 GHz at a level of –2 dB

Thermoelectric signatures of order-parameter symmetries in iron-based superconducting tunnel junctions

Thermoelectric signatures of order-parameter symmetries in iron-based superconducting tunnel junctions

Superheating field in superconductors with nanostructured surfaces

We report calculations of a DC superheating field Hsh in superconductors with nanostructured surfaces. Numerical simulations of the Ginzburg–Landau (GL) equations were performed for a superconductor with an inhomogeneous impurity concentration, a thin superconducting layer on top of another superconductor, and superconductor–insulator–superconductor (S-I-S) multilayers. The superheating field was calculated taking into account the instability of the Meissner state with a non-zero wavelength along the surface, which is essential for the realistic values of the GL parameter κ. Simulations were performed for the material parameters of Nb and Nb3Sn at different values of κ and the mean free paths. We show that the impurity concentration profile at the surface and thicknesses of S-I-S multilayers can be optimized to enhance Hsh above the bulk superheating fields of both Nb and Nb3Sn. For example, an S-I-S structure with a 90-nm-thick Nb3Sn layer on Nb can boost the superheating field up to ≈500 mT, while protecting the superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavity from dendritic thermomagnetic avalanches caused by local penetration of vortices.

Modeling the frequency characteristics of the waveguide structure of a heterodyne receiver with sideband division for the range 211...275 GHz

The microwave properties of the components of the waveguide structure of a heterodyne receiver in the 211...275 GHz range with sideband separation based on a pair of superconductor–insulator–superconductor (SIS) tunnel junctions are described. The following elements of the waveguide were studied structures: hybrid four-port splitter, directional coupler, T-shaped splitter body and waveguide absorber. S parameters were calculated for all elements. For hybrid divider additionally shows a phase balance with deviations of less than 0.4 degrees, and an amplitude balance within 1 dB. The expected level of quality of band separation in a band separation receiver using the studied waveguide elements is analyzed; its value is more than –25 dB. The waveguide elements are designed taking into account the fact that the block will be manufactured using precision milling; the minimum dimensions of the waveguide structure are limited by the diameter of the cutter used; in our case, 100 μm was chosen. All numerical calculations were performed using the finite interval method in the HFSS package.

Advances in superconductor quantum and thermal detectors for analytical instruments

Analytical instruments or scientific instruments are indispensable for scientific research and industry. The analytical instruments require a detector that converts physical quantities to be measured (measurands) to electric signals. This Tutorial describes the basics of quantum and thermal detectors, the operation principles of superconductor detectors, and the ultimate performance of state-of-art analytical instruments with superconductivity. We still face fundamental issues, such as the classical Fano factor, the relation between energy gap and mean carrier creation energy, quasiparticle dynamics, and the intermediate state in the middle of superconducting transition; and engineering issues, such as the small sensitive area and the spatially nonuniform response. Nevertheless, enormous efforts have matured superconductor detectors, which enables us to solve the inherent problems of conventional analytical instruments. As an example of the analytical results, we describe x-ray spectroscopy and mass spectrometry at our institute by using three detector types: superconductor tunnel junction, transition edge sensor, and superconductor strip. Microwave kinetic inductance and metallic magnetic calorimetric types are also described. The analytical results may contribute to a wide range of fields, such as dentistry, molecular biology, energy-saving society, planetary science, and prebiotic organic molecules in space.