Point Contact Andreev Reflection Research Articles

A compact inertial nanopositioner operating at cryogenic temperatures.

Nano-positioning plays a very important role in applications such as scanning probe microscopy and optics. We report the development of a compact inertial nanopositioner along with fully computer interfaced electronics operating down to 2K and its use in our fully automated needle-anvil type Point Contact Andreev Reflection (PCAR) apparatus. We also present the fully automated operational procedures using the LabVIEW interface with our home-built electronics. The point contact spectroscopy probe has been successfully used to perform PCAR measurements on elemental superconductors at low temperatures. The small footprint of our nanopositioner makes it ideally suited for incorporation in low temperature scanning probe microscopes and makes this design versatile for various research and industrial purposes.

Observation and characterization of titanium-like nano-filament in TiO2 memristor using superconducting electrode(s) and Andreev spectroscopy

A thin TiO2 semiconductor film embedded between two metal electrodes works as a memristor after being formed by soft breakdown. The forming creates a nano-filament that penetrates through the poorly conducting TiO2 film and connects the electrodes conductively. While previous works characterized the nano-filament properties (shape, composition, and resistivity) by electron microscopy techniques, we present a characterization by electrical measurements. In a typical memristor, both electrodes are made of normal metals. We study the metal/TiO2/metal memristors with a bottom electrode made of a superconducting NbN layer and a top electrode made of a normal (Pt) or superconducting (Nb) metal. The nano-filament connecting the electrodes touches the bottom electrode as a point contact, thus allowing us to perform point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy of the NbN superconductor. The spectra, measured below the critical temperature (15 K) of NbN, are analyzed theoretically. The analysis reveals the presence of one nano-filament and determines the nano-filament resistance, Sharvin resistance of the point contact, and Maxwell resistance of the electrodes. Moreover, it shows that the nano-filament is a conical-shaped Ti-like metal point contact with a tip diameter of ∼3–5 nm, Fermi velocity of 2×106m/s, and low-temperature resistivity of ∼10−8–10−7Ωm. Thus, the nano-filament in our device is not the Ti4O7 phase observed in previous works. Remarkably, the point contact spectrum of the superconducting NbN layer shows the Andreev peak typical for ballistic transport. This is because the point contact probes the NbN layer through a thin Al layer that mimics superconductivity of NbN via the proximity effect and eliminates the effects of tunneling and disorder.

Superconductivity of Co-Doped CaKFe4As4 Investigated via Point-Contact Spectroscopy and London Penetration Depth Measurements.

The iron-based superconductors (IBSs) of the recently discovered 1144 class, unlike many other IBSs, display superconductivity in their stoichiometric form and are intrinsically hole doped. The effects of chemical substitutions with electron donors are thus particularly interesting to investigate. Here, we study the effect of Co substitution in the Fe site of CaKFe4As4 single crystals on the critical temperature, on the energy gaps, and on the superfluid density by using transport, point-contact Andreev-reflection spectroscopy (PCARS), and London penetration depth measurements. The pristine compound (Tc≃36 K) shows two isotropic gaps whose amplitudes (Δ1 = 1.4-3.9 meV and Δ2 = 5.2-8.5 meV) are perfectly compatible with those reported in the literature. Upon Co doping (up to ≈7% Co), Tc decreases down to ≃20 K, the spin-vortex-crystal order appears, and the low-temperature superfluid density is gradually suppressed. PCARS and London penetration depth measurements perfectly agree in demonstrating that the nodeless multigap structure is robust upon Co doping, while the gap amplitudes decrease as a function of Tc in a linear way with almost constant values of the gap ratios 2Δi/kBTc.

Superconductivity in TiZrNb and TiZrNbHf bulk equimolar alloys

We have prepared and investigated superconducting equimolar medium-entropy alloys of TiZrNb and TiZrNbHf. Their basic superconducting parameters, as the values of the critical temperature Tc, upper critical magnetic field Bc2 and the superconducting energy gap Δ have been studied with the use of magnetic susceptibility and point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) spectroscopy measurements. Although our samples have different critical temperatures, namely Tc ∼ 8.2 K for TiZrNb and Tc ∼ 6.3 K for TiZrNbHf, their zero-temperature critical magnetic field has the same value Bc2(0) = 12 T, from the vicinity of the Clogston limit. We have observed the presence of degraded phases on the surfaces of all the investigated samples using PCAR measurements. Still, we were able to show that the bulk phase in both systems exhibits BCS weakly coupled superconductivity with 2Δ(0)/kBTc ∼ 3.5.

Anisotropic s-Wave Gap in the Vicinity of a Quantum Critical Point in Superconducting BaFe2(As1–x P x )2 Single Crystals: A Study of Point-Contact Spectroscopy

We report on soft c-axis point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) spectroscopy combining with resistivity measurements on BaFe2(As0.7P0.3)2, to elucidate the superconducting gap structure in the vicinity of the quantum critical point. A double peak at the gap edge plus a dip feature at zero-bias has been observed on the PCAR spectra, indicative of the presence of a nodeless gap in BaFe2(As0.7P0.3)2. Detailed analysis within a sophisticated theoretical model reveals an anisotropic gap with deep gap minima. The PCARs also feature additional structures related to the electron–bosonic coupling mode. Using the extracted superconducting energy gap value, a characteristic bosonic energy Ω b and its temperature dependence are obtained, comparable with the spin-resonance energy observed in neutron scattering experiment. These results indicate a magnetism-driven quantum critical point in the BaFe2(As1−x P x )2 system.

Point-contact Andreev reflection measurements on ZrRuAs single crystals

ZrRuAs single crystals with hexagonal crystal structure, which is a kind of non-centrosymmetric superconductor with relatively high transition temperature, is predicted to be a topological superconductor candidate. To explore the exotic properties of ZrRuAs, the superconducting gap of ZrRuAs needs to be measured. In this work, point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) spectroscopy is used to investigate the superconductivity of ZrRuAs single crystals. The double conductance peaks in the PCAR spectra are observed along different crystal directions. The superconducting gap can be quantitatively analyzed by using the modified Blonder–Tinkham–Klapwijk model based on the s-wave superconductivity. The temperature dependence of the extracted superconducting gap follows the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory. Our results suggest the isotropic s-wave superconductivity in ZrRuAs.

Point-contact spectroscopy in the Centre of Low Temperature Physics Košice (Review article)

Point-contact spectroscopy offers a unique straightforward possibility to study the electronic properties of metals. Soon after the invention of this technique by Igor Yanson in the B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering of the NAS of Ukraine [Sov. Phys. JETP39, 506 (1974)], multiple laboratories adopted this technique and applied it to various topical problems in modern solid-state physics. Here, we offer a brief review of how point-contact spectroscopy has been developed and used in the Centre of Low Temperature Physics Košice. By this technique, we were able to obtain for example the spectrum of the electron-phonon interaction in an unprecedented large energy scale up to 160 meV in LaB6. The Zeeman splitting of the Pr3+ ion levels in the crystal-electric field has been detected for the first time in PrNi5. “Inverse” point-contact spectra of the electron-phonon interaction found in semimetallic arsenic were explained by the weak localization in the point-contact area. The point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy enabled to detect not only the superconducting energy gap in YB6, but also the Einstein-like phonon mode responsible for superconductivity. The first spectroscopic evidence of the two-gap superconductivity in MgB2 has been provided in our experiments. High spin polarization in Co2FeSn Heusler nanowires for spintronics has been obtained.

Spectroscopic studies of the superconducting gap in the 12442 family of iron-based compounds (Review article)

The iron-based compounds of the so-called 12442 family are very peculiar in various respects. They originate from the intergrowth of 122 and 1111 building blocks, display a large in-plane vs out-of-plane anisotropy, possess double layers of FeAs separated by insulating layers, and are generally very similar to double-layer cuprates. Moreover, they are stoichiometric superconductors because of an intrinsic hole doping. Establishing their superconducting properties, and in particular the symmetry of the order parameter, is thus particularly relevant in order to understand to what extent these compounds can be considered as the iron-based counterpart of cuprates. In this work, we review the results of various techniques from the current literature and compare them with ours, obtained in Rb–12442 by combining point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy and coplanar waveguide resonator measurements of the superfluid density. It turns out that the compound possesses at least two gaps, one of which is certainly nodal. The compatibility of this result with the theoretically allowed gap structures, as well as with the other results in literature, is discussed in detail.

A model for critical current effects in point-contact Andreev-reflection spectroscopy

It is well known that point-contact Andreev-reflection spectroscopy provides reliable measurements of the energy gap(s) in a superconductor when the contact is in the ballistic or diffusive regime. However, especially when the mean free path of the material under study is small, obtaining ballistic contacts can be a major challenge. One of the signatures of a Maxwell contribution to the contact resistance R is the presence of “dips” in the differential conductance, associated with the sudden appearance of a Maxwell term, in turn, due to the attainment of the critical current of the material in the contact region. Here we show that using a proper model for the R(I) of the material under study, it is possible to fit the experimental curves (without the need of normalization) obtaining the correct values of the gap amplitudes even in the presence of such dips, as well as the temperature dependence of the critical current in the contact. We present a test of the procedure in the case of Andreev-reflection spectra in Mg0.85Al0.15B2 single crystals.

A new methodology for studying vortex dynamics based on point-contact spectroscopy

Vortex dynamics has attracted tremendous attention for both fundamental physics and applications of type-II superconductors. However, methods to detect local vortex motion or vortex jump with high sensitivity are still scarce. Here, we fabricated soft point contacts on the clean layered superconductor 2H–NbSe2, which are demonstrated to contain multiple parallel micro-constrictions by scanning electronic microscopy. Andreev reflection spectroscopy was then studied in detail for the contacts. Differential conductance taken at fixed bias voltages was discovered to vary spontaneously over time in various magnetic fields perpendicular to the sample surface. The conductance variations become invisible when the field is zero or large enough, or parallel to the sample surface, which can be identified as the immediate consequence of vortex motion across a finite number of micro-constrictions. These results demonstrate point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy to be a new potential way with a high time resolution to study the vortex dynamics in type-II superconductors.

Evidence of triplet superconductivity in Bi/Ni bilayers: Theoretical analysis of point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy results

A theoretical formalism of Andreev reflection is employed to provide theoretical support for distinguishing between the singlet pairing and the triplet pairing by the point contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) experiments. We utilize our theoretical curves to fit the data of the PCAR experiment on unconventional superconductivity in the Bi/Ni bilayer [arXiv:1810.10403] and find the Anderson-Brinkman-Morel (ABM) state satisfies the main characteristics of the experimental data. The chiral cross-section of the ABM state might explain well the broken time-reversal symmetry determined by the polar Kerr effect measurements and the time-domain THz spectroscopy in Bi/Ni bilayers. Moreover, the Andreev reflection spectra of the Balian-Werthamer state and the chiral $p$-wave state are also presented.

Andreev reflection in the enhanced superconducting phase of Cu0.04PdTe2

A unique superconducting phase where type I and type II superconductivity coexist was seen below 1.7 K in the Dirac semimetal PdTe2. The mixed superconducting phase was attributed to the local variation of the Ginzburg–Landau parameter(κ) in PdTe2. In such a scenario, it is imperative that introduction of disorder would make the system homogeneously type II. Here, we report our study of Point contact Andreev Reflection Spectroscopy on the 4% Cu intercalated PdTe2 single crystals. Cu-intercalates help enhance the critical temperature by donating carriers to the system, and at the same time act as scattering centres thereby reducing the effective κ. Our detailed magnetic field dependent point contact spectroscopy studies show a typical type-II behaviour in Cu-PdTe2. A conventional BTK analysis of the spectra revealed a BCS-like gap Δ0 = 330μeV. With 2Δ0/kBTc=4.25, Cu-PdTe2 falls in the strong coupling regime.

Noncontact Andreev Reflection as a Direct Probe of Superconductivity on the Atomic Scale.

Direct detection of superconductivity has long been a key strength of point-contact Andreev reflection. However, its applicability to atomic-scale imaging is limited by the mechanical contact of the Andreev probe. To this end, we present a new method to probe Andreev reflection in a tunnel junction, leveraging tunneling spectroscopy and junction tunability to achieve quantitative detection of Andreev scattering. This method enables unambiguous assignment of superconducting origins of current-carrying excitations, as well as detection of higher order Andreev processes in atomic-scale junctions. We furthermore revealed distinct sensitivity of Andreev reflection to natural defects, such as step edges, even in classical superconductors. The methodology opens a new path to nano- and atomic-scale imaging of superconducting properties, including disordered superconductors and proximity to phase transitions.

Andreev Reflection Spectroscopy on SnAs Single Crystals

Binary compounds of SnT family(T= As, Sb, Te, S, Se, P) exhibit novel properties like superconductivity, topologically protected states etc. Some of these compounds crystallize in NaCl type structure or in layered structure, both of which are considered potentially important for high-temperature/unconventional superconductivity. It was previously shown that K-doped BaBiO$_3$ with NaCl type structure exhibits superconducting state below $\sim$ 30 K. SnAs has crystallographic configuration that is exactly similar to K-doped BaBiO$_3$ and this warrants for the investigation of superconductivity in this material. Previously it was reported that SnAs exhibits weakly coupled type I superconductivity with an energy gap of 0.7 meV. Recently, the electronic bandstructure calculations has hinted to the existence of possible topologically protected states in SnAs. This has motivated us to investigate the superconducting nature of SnAs using point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy. Our investigation revealed that superconductivity in SnAs can be well explained within the BCS framework in the weak coupling limit.

Anisotropic superconductivity in ZrB12 near the critical Bogomolnyi point

The superconductors with the Ginzburg-Landau (G-L) parameter ($\kappa$) $\sim1/\sqrt{2}$ exist near a critical Bogolomonyi (B) point where they show inter-type domains between type-I and type-II superconductivity. While such physics is well understood for isotropic superconductors, the experimental investigation of the physics of anisotropic superconductors near a critical B-point remains an unattained goal mainly due to the unavailability of model material systems. Theoretically, such superconductors are expected to show type-I or type-II behaviour for definite directions of an applied magnetic field. Here, from directional point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy and field-angle dependent ac magnetic susceptibility measurements, we show that ZrB$_{12}$ is an anisotropic superconductor, and it exhibits field-direction dependent type-I and type-II behaviour. These observations match remarkably well with the theoretical expectations for an anisotropic superconductor near a critical B-point. Therefore, our results project ZrB$_{12}$ as a model material system where the physics of inter-type anisotropic superconductivity can be explored experimentally.

Nodal multigap superconductivity in the anisotropic iron-based compound RbCa2Fe4As4F2

The 12442 compounds are a recently discovered family of iron-based superconductors, that share several features with the cuprates due to their strongly anisotropic structure, but are so far poorly understood. Here, we report on the gap structure and anisotropy of RbCa2(Fe1−xNix)4As4F2 single crystals, investigated by a combination of directional point-contact Andreev-reflection spectroscopy and coplanar waveguide resonator measurements. Two gaps were identified, with clear signatures of d-wave-like nodal structures which persist upon Ni doping, well described by a two-band d − d state with symmetry-imposed nodes. A large London penetration depth anisotropy was revealed, weakly dependent on temperature and fully compatible with the d − d model.

Detection of Magnetic Gap in Topological Surface States of MnBi2Te4 Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2017YFA0303302, 2018YFA0305604, and 2018YFA0307100), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11888101, 11774008, 11704279, 11874035, and 51788104), the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDB28000000), the Beijing Natural Science Foundation

Recently, intrinsic antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4 has drawn intense research interest and leads to plenty of significant progress in physics and materials science by hosting quantum anomalous Hall effect, axion insulator state, and other quantum phases. An essential ingredient to realize these quantum states is the magnetic gap in the topological surface states induced by the out-of-plane ferromagnetism on the surface of MnBi2Te4. However, the experimental observations of the surface gap remain controversial. Here, we report the observation of the surface gap via the point contact tunneling spectroscopy. In agreement with theoretical calculations, the gap size is around 50 meV, which vanishes as the sample becomes paramagnetic with increasing temperature. The magnetoresistance hysteresis is detected through the point contact junction on the sample surface with an out-of-plane magnetic field, substantiating the surface ferromagnetism. Furthermore, the non-zero transport spin polarization coming from the ferromagnetism is determined by the point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy. Combining these results, the magnetism-induced gap in topological surface states of MnBi2Te4 is revealed.

Magnetic order and magnetotransport in half-metallic ferrimagnetic MnyRuxGa thin films

The ruthenium content of half-metallic ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ru}}_{x}\mathrm{Ga}$ thin films, with a biaxially strained inverse Heusler structure, controls the ferrimagnetism that determines their magnetic and electronic properties. An extensive study of ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{y}{\mathrm{Ru}}_{x}\mathrm{Ga}$ films on MgO (100) substrates with $1.8\ensuremath{\le}y\ensuremath{\le}2.6$ and $x=0.5, 0.7 \mathrm{or} 0.9$, including crystallographic, magnetic order, magneto-transport, and spin polarization, is undertaken to map specific composition-dependent properties in this versatile ternary system. A comparison of experimental densities obtained from x-ray reflectivity with calculated densities indicates full-site occupancy for all compositions, which implies chemical disorder. All moments lie on a Slater-Pauling plot with slope 1 and all except $x=0.5$, $y=2.2$ exhibit magnetic compensation at ${T}_{\text{comp}}$ below 500 K. The coercivity near ${T}_{\text{comp}}$ exceeds 10 T. Increasing the Mn or Ru content raises ${T}_{\text{comp}}$, but increasing Ru also decreases the spin polarization determined by point contact Andreev reflection. Molecular-field theory is used to model the temperature dependence of the net ferrimagnetic moment and three principal exchange coefficients are deduced. Marked differences in the shape of anomalous Hall and net magnetization hysteresis loops are explained by substantial canting of the small net moment by up to ${40}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ relative to the $c$ axis in zero field, which is a result of slight noncollinearity of the ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{4c}$ sublattice moments due to competing intrasublattice exchange interactions arising from antisite disorder and excess Mn in the unit cell. Consequences are reduced-spin polarization and an enhanced intrinsic contribution to the anomalous Hall effect. The systematic investigation of the physical properties as a function of $x$ and $y$ will guide the selection of compositions to meet the requirements for magnonic and spintronic MRG-based devices.

Low temperature and high magnetic field performance of a commercial piezo-actuator probed via laser interferometry.

The advances in the fields of scanning probe microscopy, scanning tunneling spectroscopy, point contact spectroscopy, and point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy to study the properties of conventional and quantum materials under cryogenic conditions have prompted the development of nanopositioners and nanoscanners with enhanced spatial resolution. Piezoelectric-actuator stacks as nanopositioners with working strokes of 10μm and positioning resolution ∼(1-10) nm are desirable for both basic research and industrial applications. However, information on the performance of most commercial piezoelectric actuators in cryogenic environment and in the presence of magnetic fields in excess of 5T is generally not available. In particular, the magnitude, the rate, and the associated hysteresis of the piezo-displacement at cryogenic temperatures are the most relevant parameters that determine whether a particular piezoelectric actuator can be used as a nanopositioner. Here, the design and realization of an experimental setup based on interferometric techniques to characterize a commercial piezoelectric actuator over a temperature range of 2K ≤ T ≤ 260K and magnetic fields up to 6T are presented. The studied piezoelectric actuator has a maximum displacement of 30μm at room temperature for a maximum driving voltage of 75V, which reduces to 1.2μm with an absolute hysteresis of 9.1±3.3nm at T = 2K. The magnetic field is shown to have no substantial effect on the piezo-properties of the studied piezoelectric-actuator stack.

Superconducting properties of GdxPb1−xMo6S8 (x = 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) compounds

For the first time, the temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity ρ(T) were studied in GdxPb1−xMo6S8 (x = 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) compounds in the temperature range 4–18 K and magnetic fields up to 14 T. It is shown that the superconducting transition temperature values Tc decrease from 14.6 K for a compound with x = 0.5 to 11.8 K for x = 0.9. Experimental dependences Hc2(T) were plotted and it was found that the theoretical dependence Hc2(T) within the microscopic theory of Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg poorly describes the experimental data for the Gd0.9Pb0.1Mo6S8 compound. At the same time, the fit of Hc2(T) within the Ginzburg-Landau theory is in good agreement with the experimental results for all the studied samples. An explanation of the dependence Hc2(T) of the studied samples from the gadolinium concentration was proposed. The differential resistance for the Gd0.5Pb0.5Mo6S8–Ag heterocontact with resistance RPC ≈ 2.6 Ω was obtained for 2.6 K using point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy. As a result, the superconducting gap for Gd0.5Pb0.5Mo6S8 was estimated for the first time to be Δ ≈ 1.95 meV at 2.6 K. The resulting ratio was 2Δ/kTc ≈ 3.02, which is lower than the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer value of 3.52 for conventional weakly coupled superconductors.