Collective energy gap of preformed Cooper-pairs in disordered superconductors

TL;DR

This paper uncovers a new energy scale, $ abla_{c}$, associated with the collective transition of preformed Cooper pairs in disordered superconductors, using Andreev spectroscopy on amorphous indium oxide films.

Contribution

It identifies and measures the collective energy gap $ abla_{c}$ in disordered superconductors, revealing a two-step transition involving preformed pairs.

Findings

Observation of two Andreev conductance peaks at $ abla_{c}$

$ abla_{c}$ develops only below $T_c$

$ abla_{c}$ is prominent in highly disordered films near the insulator transition

Abstract

In most superconductors the transition to the superconducting state is driven by the binding of electrons into Cooper-pairs. The condensation of these pairs into a single, phase coherent, quantum state takes place concomitantly with their formation at the transition temperature, $T_c$. A different scenario occurs in some disordered, amorphous, superconductors: Instead of a pairing-driven transition, incoherent Cooper pairs first pre-form above $T_c$, causing the opening of a pseudogap, and then, at $T_c$, condense into the phase coherent superconducting state. Such a two-step scenario implies the existence of a new energy scale, $\Delta_{c}$, driving the collective superconducting transition of the preformed pairs. Here we unveil this energy scale by means of Andreev spectroscopy in superconducting thin films of amorphous indium oxide. We observe two Andreev conductance peaks at $\pm \Delta_{c}$ that develop only below $T_c$ and for highly disordered films on the verge of the transition to insulator. Our findings demonstrate that amorphous superconducting films provide prototypical disordered quantum systems to explore the collective superfluid transition of preformed Cooper-pairs pairs.