Direct observation of ballistic Andreev reflection

An overview is presented of experiments on ballistic electrical transport in inhomogeneous superconducting systems which are controlled by the process of Andreev reflection. The initial experiments based on the coexistence of a normal phase and a superconducting phase in the intermediate state led t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental and theoretical physics 2014-12, Vol.119 (6), p.997-1017
Main Authors: Klapwijk, T. M., Ryabchun, S. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CARBON NANOTUBES
Classical and Quantum Gravitation
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
Electric properties
Elementary Particles
GRAPHENE
INTERMEDIATE STATE
NANOWIRES
Particle and Nuclear Physics
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Quantum Field Theory
REFLECTION
Relativity Theory
Solid State Physics
Special issue in honor of A.F. Andreev’s 75th birthday Issue Editor: I.A. Fomin
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
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Summary:An overview is presented of experiments on ballistic electrical transport in inhomogeneous superconducting systems which are controlled by the process of Andreev reflection. The initial experiments based on the coexistence of a normal phase and a superconducting phase in the intermediate state led to the concept itself. It was followed by a focus on geometrically inhomogeneous systems like point contacts, which provided a very clear manifestation of the energy and direction dependence of the Andreev reflection process. The point contacts have recently evolved towards the atomic scale owing to the use of mechanical break-junctions, revealing a very detailed dependence of Andreev reflection on the macroscopic phase of the superconducting state. In present-day research, the superconducting in homogeneity is constructed by clean room technology and combines superconducting materials, for example, with low-dimensional materials and topological insulators. Alternatively, the superconductor is combined with nano-objects, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, or semiconducting nanowires. Each of these “inhomogeneous systems” provides a very interesting range of properties, all rooted in some manifestation of Andreev reflection.
ISSN:1063-7761
1090-6509
DOI:10.1134/S106377611412005X