Superconductivity-related insulating behavior.
We present the results of an experimental study of superconducting, disordered, thin films of amorphous indium oxide. These films can be driven from the superconducting phase to a reentrant insulating state by the application of a perpendicular magnetic field (B). We find that the high-B insulator exhibits activated transport with a characteristic temperature, TI. TI has a maximum value (TpI) that is close to the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) at B=0, suggesting a possible relation between the conduction mechanisms in the superconducting and insulating phases. Tp(I) and Tc display opposite dependences on the disorder strength.
Sambandamurthy
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Department of Condensed Matter Physics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Engel
L W
LW
Johansson
A
A
Shahar
D
D