title: Persistent currents in normal metal rings.
abstract: Quantum mechanics predicts that the equilibrium state of a resistive metal ring will contain a dissipationless current. This persistent current has been the focus of considerable theoretical and experimental work, but its basic properties remain a topic of controversy. The main experimental challenges in studying persistent currents have been the small signals they produce and their exceptional sensitivity to their environment. We have developed a technique for detecting persistent currents that allows us to measure the persistent current in metal rings over a wide range of temperatures, ring sizes, and magnetic fields. Measurements of both a single ring and arrays of rings agree well with calculations based on a model of non-interacting electrons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bleszynski-Jayich
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peaudecerf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ginossar
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Oppen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glazman
authors.forename: J G E
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Harris