title: Comment on' Superconducting transition in Nb nanowires fabricated using a focused-ion beam'.
abstract: In a recent paper Tettamanzi et al (2009 Nanotechnology 20 465302) describe the fabrication of superconducting Nb nanowires using a focused-ion beam. They interpret their conductivity data in the framework of thermal and quantum phase slips below T(c). In the following we will argue that their analysis is inappropriate and incomplete, leading to contradictory results. Instead, we propose an interpretation of the data within an SN proximity model.
authors.affiliation: Physics Institute, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland. andreas.engel@physik.uzh.ch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engel
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007477:Ions; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition / Q000528:radiation effects; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D009556:Niobium; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium