Coherent transport in extremely underdoped Nd1.2Ba1.8Cu3Oz nanostructures

TL;DR

This study investigates charge transport in underdoped Nd1.2Ba1.8Cu3Oz nanostructures, revealing unexpected suppression of superconductivity and pair breaking effects at very low temperatures, with implications for mesoscopic superconducting phenomena.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the suppression of superconductivity and pair breaking mechanisms in underdoped cuprate nanostructures at ultra-low temperatures.

Findings

Inhibition of Cooper pair transport at low temperatures.

Destruction of induced superconductivity below 6K.

Significant changes in conductance characteristics with temperature.

Abstract

Proximity-effect and resistance magneto-fluctuations measurements in submicron Nd1.2Ba1.8Cu3Oz (NBCO) nano-loops are reported to investigate coherent charge transport in the non-superconducting state. We find an unexpected inhibition of cooper pair transport, and a destruction of the induced superconductivity, by lowering the temperature from 6K to 250mK. This effect is accompanied by a significant change in the conductance-voltage characteristics and in the zero bias conductance response to the magnetic field pointing to the activation of a strong pair breaking mechanism at lower temperature. The data are discussed in the framework of mesoscopic effects specific to superconducting nanostructures, proximity effect and high temperature superconductivity.