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Signatures of Unconventional Superconductivity in Granular Aluminum

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Abstract

We present measurements of the complex transmission of superconducting granular aluminum thin films in the THz optical range. We discuss the dynamical conductivity and temperature-dependent energy gap of two films of different granular coupling. While the film of well-coupled grains follows the predictions for a conventional BCS superconductor, signatures of enhanced absorption are found at sub-gap frequencies when coupling is decreased. We discuss possible explanations which might account for the observed deviations from BCS theory.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge fruitful discussions with N. Trivedi, L. Benfatto, D. Sherman, A. Frydman, and B. Gorshunov. N.B. and U.S.P. contributed equally to this work. In addition, U.S.P. is greatful for financial support of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Superconductivity and Optical Spectroscopy, Ariel University, 40700, Ariel, Israel

    N. Bachar & E. Farber

  2. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart, 70550, Stuttgart, Germany

    U. S. Pracht, M. Dressel & M. Scheffler

  3. Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel

    N. Bachar & G. Deutscher

Authors
  1. N. Bachar
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  2. U. S. Pracht
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  3. E. Farber
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  4. M. Dressel
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  5. G. Deutscher
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  6. M. Scheffler
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Correspondence to N. Bachar.

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Bachar, N., Pracht, U.S., Farber, E. et al. Signatures of Unconventional Superconductivity in Granular Aluminum. J Low Temp Phys 179, 83–89 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-014-1244-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-014-1244-z

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