The quantum phase slip phenomenon in superconducting nanowires with high-impedance environment

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum phase slips in superconducting nanowires within high-impedance environments, revealing how quantum tunneling induces Coulomb blockade effects, turning the nanowire into an insulator below a certain bias voltage.

Contribution

It demonstrates the occurrence of Coulomb blockade due to quantum phase slips in superconducting nanowires embedded in high-impedance environments, highlighting a novel quantum tunneling effect.

Findings

Quantum phase slips cause finite resistivity at low temperatures.

High-impedance environment induces Coulomb blockade in nanowires.

Nanowires behave as insulators below a specific bias voltage.

Abstract

Quantum phase slip (QPS) is the particular manifestation of quantum fluctuations of the order parameter of a current-biased quasi-1D superconductor. The QPS event(s) can be considered a dynamic equivalent of tunneling through conventional Josephson junction containing static in space and time weak link(s). At low temperatures T<<Tc the QPS effect leads to finite resistivity of narrow superconducting channels and suppresses persistent currents in tiny nanorings. Here we demonstrate that the quantum tunneling of phase may result in Coulomb blockade: superconducting nanowire, imbedded in high-Ohmic environment, below a certain bias voltage behaves as an insulator.