Records |
Author |
Croitoru, M.D.; Shanenko, A.A.; Kaun, C.C.; Peeters, F.M. |
Title |
Ultra-small metallic grains : effect of statistical fluctuations of the chemical potential on superconducting correlations and vice versa |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Journal of physics : condensed matter |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Phys-Condens Mat |
Volume |
24 |
Issue |
27 |
Pages |
275701 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
Abstract |
Superconducting correlations in an isolated metallic grain are governed by the interplay between two energy scales: the mean level spacing delta and the bulk pairing gap Delta(0), which are strongly influenced by the position of the chemical potential with respect to the closest single-electron level. In turn superconducting correlations affect the position of the chemical potential. Within the parity projected BCS model we investigate the probability distribution of the chemical potential in a superconducting grain with randomly distributed single-electron levels. Taking into account statistical fluctuations of the chemical potential due to the pairing interaction, we find that such fluctuations have a significant impact on the critical level spacing delta(c) at which the superconducting correlations cease: the critical ratio delta(c)/Delta(0) at which superconductivity disappears is found to be increased. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
London |
Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000305653100012 |
Publication Date |
2012-06-21 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
ISSN |
0953-8984;1361-648X; |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
2.649 |
Times cited |
9 |
Open Access |
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Notes |
; This work was supported by the European Community under the Marie Curie IEF Action (Grant Agreement No. PIEF-GA-2009-235486-ScQSR), the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-Vl), the Belgian Science Policy (IAP), and the ESF network INSTANS. MDC and AAS are grateful to A Vagov for stimulating discussions. ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 2.649; 2012 IF: 2.355 |
Call Number |
UA @ lucian @ c:irua:100280 |
Serial |
3793 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Croitoru, M.D.; Shanenko, A.A.; Kaun, C.C.; Peeters, F.M. |
Title |
Metallic nanograins : spatially nonuniform pairing induced by quantum confinement |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2011 |
Publication |
Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics |
Abbreviated Journal |
Phys Rev B |
Volume |
83 |
Issue |
21 |
Pages |
214509-214509,12 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
Abstract |
It is well known that the formation of discrete electron levels strongly influences the pairing in metallic nanograins. Here, we focus on another effect of quantum confinement in superconducting grains that was not studied previously, i.e., spatially nonuniform pairing. This effect is very significant when single-electron levels form bunches and/or a kind of shell structure. We find that, in highly symmetric grains, the order parameter can exhibit variations with position by an order of magnitude. Nonuniform pairing is closely related to a quantum-confinement-induced modification of the pairing-interaction matrix elements and size-dependent pinning of the chemical potential to groups of degenerate or nearly degenerate levels. For illustrative purposes, we consider spherical metallic nanograins and also rectangular shapes. We show that the relevant matrix elements are, as a rule, enhanced in the presence of quantum confinement, which favors spatial variations of the order parameter, compensating the corresponding energy cost. The size-dependent pinning of the chemical potential further increases the spatial variation of the pair condensate. The role of nonuniform pairing is smaller in less symmetric confining geometries and/or in the presence of disorder. However, it always remains of importance when the energy spacing between discrete electron levels δ is approaching the scale of the bulk gap ΔB, i.e., δ>0.10.2 ΔB. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000291310000006 |
Publication Date |
2011-06-06 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
|
ISSN |
1098-0121;1550-235X; |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
3.836 |
Times cited |
23 |
Open Access |
|
Notes |
; This work was supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-VI), and the Belgian Science Policy (IAP). M. D. C. acknowledges support of the European Community under a Marie Curie IEF Action (Grant Agreement No. PIEF-GA-2009-235486-ScQSR). ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 3.836; 2011 IF: 3.691 |
Call Number |
UA @ lucian @ c:irua:90081 |
Serial |
2010 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Croitoru, M.D.; Shanenko, A.A.; Kaun, C.C.; Peeters, F.M. |
Title |
Superconducting nanowires: interplay of discrete transverse modes with supercurrent |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2009 |
Publication |
Physical review : B : solid state |
Abbreviated Journal |
Phys Rev B |
Volume |
80 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
024513,1-024513,11 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
Abstract |
From a numerical solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations, we investigate an interplay of the transverse discrete modes with a longitudinal supercurrent in a metallic cylindrical superconducting nanowire. The superconductor-to-normal transition induced by a longitudinal superflow of electrons is found to occur as a cascade of jumps in the order parameter (supercurrent and superfluid density) as a function of the superfluid velocity for diameters d<1015 nm (for Al parameters) and sufficiently low temperatures T<0.30.4Tc, with Tc the critical temperature. When approaching Tc, the jumps are smoothed into steplike but continuous drops. A similar picture occurs for d>1520 nm. Only when the diameter exceeds 5070 nm the quantum-size cascades are fully washed out, and we arrive at the mesoscopic regime. Below this regime the critical current density jc exhibits the quantum-size oscillations with pronounced resonant enhancements: the smaller the diameter, the more significant is the enhancement. Thickness fluctuations of real samples will smooth out such oscillations into an overall growth of jc with decreasing nanowire diameter. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
Lancaster, Pa |
Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000268617500092 |
Publication Date |
2009-07-22 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1098-0121;1550-235X; |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
3.836 |
Times cited |
21 |
Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 3.836; 2009 IF: 3.475 |
Call Number |
UA @ lucian @ c:irua:77949 |
Serial |
3358 |
Permanent link to this record |