The Stabilization of Superconductivity by Magnetic Field in Out-of-Equilibrium Nanowires

TL;DR

This study investigates how magnetic fields can stabilize superconductivity in Zn nanowires out of equilibrium, revealing boundary effects and length scale dependencies that influence the phenomenon.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence that magnetic-field-induced superconductivity is a nonequilibrium boundary effect involving specific length scales.

Findings

Magnetic field can induce superconductivity in Zn nanowires.

The effect depends on wire length and boundary conditions.

Superconductivity stabilization is linked to boundary and length scale effects.

Abstract

A systematic study has been carried out on the previously reported "magnetic-field-induced superconductivity" of Zn nanowires. By varying parameters such as magnetic field orientation and wire length, the results provide evidence that the phenomenon is a nonequilibrium effect associated with the boundary electrodes. They also suggest there are two length scales involved, the superconducting coherence length and quasiparticle relaxation length. As wire lengths approach either of these length scales, the effect weakens. We demonstrate that it is appropriate to consider the effect to be a stabilization of superconductivity, that has been suppressed by an applied current.