title: Giant proximity effect in cuprate superconductors.
abstract: Using an advanced molecular beam epitaxy system, we have reproducibly synthesized atomically smooth films of high-temperature superconductors and uniform trilayer junctions with virtually perfect interfaces. We found that supercurrent runs through very thick barriers. We can rule out pinholes and microshorts; this "giant proximity effect" (GPE) is intrinsic. It defies the conventional explanation; it might originate in resonant tunneling through pair states in an almost-superconducting barrier. GPE may also be significant for superconducting electronics, since thick barriers are easier to fabricate.
authors.affiliation: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973-5000, USA. bozovic@bnl.gov
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bozovic
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Logvenov
authors.forename: M A J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goldobin
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Beasley