title: Proximity-induced superconductivity in nanowires: minigap state and differential magnetoresistance oscillations.
abstract: We study proximity-induced superconductivity in gold nanowires as a function of the length of the nanowire, magnetic field, and excitation current. Short nanowires exhibit a sharp superconducting transition, whereas long nanowires show nonzero resistance. At intermediate lengths, however, we observe two sharp transitions; the normal and superconducting regions are separated by what we call the minigap phase. Additionally, we detect periodic oscillations in the differential magnetoresistance. We suggest that the minigap phase as well as the periodic oscillations originate from a coexistence of proximity-induced superconductivity with a normal region near the center of the wire, created either by temperature or the application of a magnetic field.
authors: The Center for Nanoscale Science and Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6300, USA. juw17@psu.edu
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Chuntai
authors: C
authors: Shi
authors: Mingliang
authors: M
authors: Tian
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Zhang
authors: Nitesh
authors: N
authors: Kumar
authors: J K
authors: JK
authors: Jain
authors: T E
authors: TE
authors: Mallouk
authors: M H W
authors: MH
authors: Chan