Interface-mediated pairing in field effect devices

TL;DR

This paper explores how interface-mediated interactions can induce superconductivity in a 2D electron gas via a proximate insulating film with polarizable excitations, showing the critical temperature depends nonmonotonically on electric field and excitation energy.

Contribution

It introduces a model for pairing in a 2D electron gas influenced by localized two-level systems and predicts conditions for observable superconductivity in field-effect devices.

Findings

Critical temperature $T_c$ varies nonmonotonically with electric field.

Superconductivity may be achievable with sufficient carrier density.

$T_c$ depends on the excitation energy of two-level systems.

Abstract

We consider the pairing induced in a strictly 2D electron gas (2DEG) by a proximate insulating film with polarizable localized excitations. Within a model of interacting 2D electrons and localized two-level systems, we calculate the critical temperature $T_c$ as a function of applied voltage and for different materials properties. Assuming that a sufficient carrier density can be induced in a field-gated device, we argue that superconductivity may be observable in such systems. $T_c$ is found to be a nonmonotonic function of both electric field and the excitation energy of the two-level systems.