Quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x films

Abstract The d-wave symmetry of the order parameter with zero energy gap in nodal directions stands in the way of using high-temperature superconductors for quantum applications. We investigate the symmetry of the order parameter in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x (YBCO) films by measuring the electrical t...

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Main Authors: M. Lyatti, I. Gundareva, T. Röper, Z. Popović, A. R. Jalil, D. Grützmacher, T. Schäpers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-09-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73207-z
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author M. Lyatti
I. Gundareva
T. Röper
Z. Popović
A. R. Jalil
D. Grützmacher
T. Schäpers
author_facet M. Lyatti
I. Gundareva
T. Röper
Z. Popović
A. R. Jalil
D. Grützmacher
T. Schäpers
author_sort M. Lyatti
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The d-wave symmetry of the order parameter with zero energy gap in nodal directions stands in the way of using high-temperature superconductors for quantum applications. We investigate the symmetry of the order parameter in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x (YBCO) films by measuring the electrical transport properties of nanowires aligned at different angles relative to the main crystallographic axes. The anisotropy of the nanowire critical current in the nodal and antinodal directions reduces with the decrease in the film thickness. The Andreev reflection spectroscopy of the nanoconstrictions shows the presence of a thickness-dependent energy gap that does not exist in bulk YBCO. We find that the thickness-dependent energy gap appears due to the quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBCO films that open the energy gap along the entire Fermi surface. The fully gapped state of the ultra-thin YBCO films makes them a promising platform for quantum applications, including quantum computing and quantum communications.
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spelling doaj-art-cabab07f70b94fb295246ac4c93fa9d02025-08-20T03:45:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-09-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-73207-zQuantum size effects in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x filmsM. Lyatti0I. Gundareva1T. Röper2Z. Popović3A. R. Jalil4D. Grützmacher5T. Schäpers6Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-9), Forschungszentrum JülichPeter Grünberg Institut (PGI-9), Forschungszentrum JülichPeter Grünberg Institut (PGI-9), Forschungszentrum JülichFaculty of Physics, University of BelgradeJARA-Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, Jülich-Aachen Research Alliance , Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen UniversityPeter Grünberg Institut (PGI-9), Forschungszentrum JülichPeter Grünberg Institut (PGI-9), Forschungszentrum JülichAbstract The d-wave symmetry of the order parameter with zero energy gap in nodal directions stands in the way of using high-temperature superconductors for quantum applications. We investigate the symmetry of the order parameter in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x (YBCO) films by measuring the electrical transport properties of nanowires aligned at different angles relative to the main crystallographic axes. The anisotropy of the nanowire critical current in the nodal and antinodal directions reduces with the decrease in the film thickness. The Andreev reflection spectroscopy of the nanoconstrictions shows the presence of a thickness-dependent energy gap that does not exist in bulk YBCO. We find that the thickness-dependent energy gap appears due to the quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBCO films that open the energy gap along the entire Fermi surface. The fully gapped state of the ultra-thin YBCO films makes them a promising platform for quantum applications, including quantum computing and quantum communications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73207-z
spellingShingle M. Lyatti
I. Gundareva
T. Röper
Z. Popović
A. R. Jalil
D. Grützmacher
T. Schäpers
Quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x films
Scientific Reports
title Quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x films
title_full Quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x films
title_fullStr Quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x films
title_full_unstemmed Quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x films
title_short Quantum size effects in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7 − x films
title_sort quantum size effects in ultra thin yba2cu3o7 x films
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73207-z
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