Size selected nanocluster particles as novel building blocks for high Tc superconducting systems
Abstract
The aim stated in the original proposal was to formulate a roadmap and produce a testbed for the development of high-temperature superconducting electronic networks based on size-selected quantum-resolved nanocluster particles. The inspiration for this research came from two sources: (1) My groups experimental discovery in 2015 of superconducting pairing in individual aluminum nanocluster particles at approximately 120 K, which is about two orders of magnitude higher than in bulk aluminum (this effect should exist in other materials as well, and has the realistic potential to be extended up to room temperature); and (2) The fact that chains and networks built out of such nanoclusters soft-landed on a surface will be capable of carrying superconducting (and therefore lossless) currents due to tunneling between the nanoclusters (Josephson effect). Theory predicts that this current will be 100-1,000 times higher than in conventional Josephson systems, and operate at much higher temperatures. Such a combination of size-selectively depositing nanoclusters, probing their individual superconductive properties, and working toward assembling them into organized superconducting networks had never been attempted previously. It requires state-of-the art equipment for producing and mass-selecting bare metal nanoparticles, a means to soft-land them on a substrate of choice, imaging of the deposition result, and reliable tools for characterizing the transport properties. Our exploratory proposal was specifically focused on the task of optimizing the sample preparation and imaging steps, and on demonstrating that the samples can be accommodated on chips and mounts that are 100% usable for transport studies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1063308
Entities
People
- Vitaly V Kresin
Organizations
- University of Southern California