Femtovolt Measurements of the Superconducting Transition in Tin Whisker Crystals.
Abstract
The onset of the resistive transition of one-dimensional superconductors has been studied with as much as 10 to the -15th power volt sensitivity, at currents as low as 0.000 000 1 ampere. The bahavior in this region is determined by thermodynamic fluctuations of the order parameter. Measurements at 0.000 0002A on pure tin, single-crystal whiskers approximately one-half micron in diameter, agree over five decades of resistance change with the explicit predictions of the McCumber-Halperin modification of the Langer-Ambegaokar theory. Extensive development of the technology of Josephson-junction superconducting voltmeters was undertaken in the course of this experiment. A detailed analysis of the practical and fundamental bandwidth and sensitivity limitations of these techniques is given. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0721102
Entities
People
- Ronald S. Newbower
Organizations
- Harvard University