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Two-electron quantization of the charge on a superconductor.

Author(s) : LAFARGE P., JOYEZ P., ESTEVE D., URBINA C., DEVORET M. H.

Type of article: Article

Summary

The authors report a direct measurement of the total charge on a superconducting electrode which is free to exchange electrons with a metallic reservoir through a tunnel junction. The measurements, with the charging energy below the energy gap between the ground and first excited superconducting state, reveal charging steps strictly quantized in units of 2 electrons, corresponding to the simultaneous tunnelling of two electrons. The 2 electron steps break into 1 electron steps when the temperature and magnetic field are increased above threshold values, corresponding to the electrostatic breaking of a single Cooper pair. The results indicate that Cooper pairs can be manipulated in the same way as single electrons in turnstile and pump devices.

Details

  • Original title: Two-electron quantization of the charge on a superconductor.
  • Record ID : 1994-1404
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Nature - vol. 365 - n. 6445
  • Publication date: 1993/09/30
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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