Localization and superconducting proximity effect in sandwiched potassium films

TL;DR

This study investigates how sandwiched potassium films exhibit localization and superconducting proximity effects, revealing that conductance drops significantly while electronic properties remain largely unchanged at the film scale.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates that alkali metal films maintain their electronic properties despite conductance reduction, highlighting localization effects in sandwiched configurations.

Findings

Conductance of alkali films is dramatically reduced when sandwiched.

Electronic properties remain largely unchanged at the film thickness scale.

Localization of electrons is observed despite minimal change in electronic properties.

Abstract

Thin films of alkali metals when sandwiched at both surfaces by thin metal films loose their conductance. The superconducting proximity effect is used to investigate the change in the alkali film. On the length scale of the film thickness the electronic properties of the alkali film do not change noticeably although its conductance is dramatically reduced, corresponding to localized electrons.