Quantum and thermal phase slips in superconducting niobium nitride (NbN) ultrathin crystalline nanowire: application to single photon detection.
We present low-temperature electronic transport properties of superconducting nanowires obtained by nanolithography of 4-nm-thick niobium nitride (NbN) films epitaxially grown on sapphire substrate. Below 6 K, clear evidence of phase slippages is observed in the transport measurements. Upon lowering the temperature, we observe the signatures of a crossover between a thermal and a quantum behavior in the phase slip regimes. We find that phase slips are stable even at the lowest temperatures and that no hotspot is formed. The photoresponse of these nanowires is measured as a function of the light irradiation wavelength and temperature and exhibits a behavior comparable with previous results obtained on thicker films.
Institut Néel, CNRS et Université Joseph Fourier, BP 166, F-38042 Grenoble, France. cecile.delacour@grenoble.cnrs.fr
Cécile
C
Delacour
Bernard
B
Pannetier
Jean-Claude
JC
Villegier
Vincent
V
Bouchiat
D003460:Crystallization; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D017785:Photons; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009556:Niobium; D009584:Nitrogen