Journal ArticleDOI
Time scale of intrinsic resistive fluctuations in thin superconducting wires
TLDR
In this paper, a model based upon a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation was proposed to obtain a new estimate of ε-Omega$ which is different in functional form from the LA estimate, and smaller than that estimate by more than 10 orders of magnitude for the conditions in recent experiments.Abstract:
A thermal-activation theory of intrinsic fluctuations in thin superconducting wires has been proposed by Langer and Ambegaokar (LA). Their fluctuation rate equals an exponential activation factor ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}F}{{k}_{B}T}}$ times a prefactor $\ensuremath{\Omega}$ which fixes the fluctuation time scale. Using a model based upon a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation, we obtain a new estimate of $\ensuremath{\Omega}$ which is different in functional form from the LA estimate, and smaller than that estimate by more than 10 orders of magnitude for the conditions in recent experiments. To within corrections which are roughly of order unity, our expression is $\ensuremath{\Omega}=(\frac{L}{\ensuremath{\xi}})\frac{{(\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}F}{{k}_{B}T})}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{\ensuremath{\tau}}$, where ($\frac{L}{\ensuremath{\xi}}$) is the length of the sample in units of the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length $\ensuremath{\xi}$, ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}F}{{k}_{B}T})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ is a correction for overlap of fluctuations at different places along the wire, and $\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ sec is the relaxation time in the Ginzburg-Landau equation. Although our specific expressions have been derived from a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, we expect from general physical arguments that they are relatively insensitive to the starting model.read more
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Journal ArticleDOI
Reaction-rate theory: fifty years after Kramers
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report, extend, and interpret much of our current understanding relating to theories of noise-activated escape, for which many of the notable contributions are originating from the communities both of physics and of physical chemistry.
Journal ArticleDOI
Quantum suppression of superconductivity in ultrathin nanowires
TL;DR: It is found that nanowires can be superconducting or insulating depending on the ratio of their normal-state resistance (RN) to the quantum resistance for Cooper pairs (Rq), and an insulating state for RN > Rq is observed, which is explained in terms of proliferation of quantum phase slips and a corresponding localization of Cooper pairs.
Journal ArticleDOI
Fluctuations near superconducting phase transitions
W J Skocpol,M Tinkham +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of thermodynamic fluctuations near superconducting phase transitions are reviewed, and the current status of theoretical and experimental studies of these effects is surveyed, particularly in thin films, whisker crystals and powders.
Journal ArticleDOI
Superconductivity in one dimension
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review recent theoretical and experimental activities in the field and demonstrate dramatic progress in understanding of the phenomenon of superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional nanostructures.
Journal ArticleDOI
Superconductivity in one dimension
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review recent theoretical and experimental activities in the field and demonstrate dramatic progress in understanding of the phenomenon of superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional nanostructures.
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