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Project

Vibrational and electronic properties of superconducting films and nanoparticles investigated by advanced synchrotron and theoretical methods.

Superconductivity is one of the most intriguing phenomena in solid state physics. It is characterized by the condensation of electrons into Cooper pairs, i.e. below a particular critical temperature there is an effective attractive interaction between electrons, and in bulk materials this manifests itself in (i) the disappearance of electrical resistance and (ii) the expulsion of an external magnetic field. This attractive interaction between electrons is mediated via the lattice, and therefore the electron-phonon coupling is essential for superconductivity. Although superconductivity has been discovered more than 100 years ago, the phenomenon is still not entirely understood. Especially during the past ten years, with the rising interest in nanoscale phenomena, the question has emerged if and how superconductivity can be established when the system size becomes smaller than the typical size of a Cooper pair, a situation occurring in thin films and nanoparticles. In this project we aim to get a deeper understanding of the intimate link between the overall superconducting properties on one hand and the lattice dynamics of nanoscale systems on the other hand. We will approach this problem via new theoretical routes in conjunction with state of the art experiments. In particular we will use synchrotron-based techniques to actually measure the phonons in (ultra) thin films and nanoparticles as well as the superconducting gap energy. Theoretical developments will focus on constructing an appropriate ab initio framework for calculating phonons and superconducting properties of confined systems. As model systems we will use Nb3Sn films and Sn and Pb nanoparticles. The combination of advanced theory and frontline experiments will lead to a strongly improved grasp of superconductivity in low-dimensional systems.

Date:1 Jan 2013 →  31 Dec 2016
Keywords:G.0C08.13
Disciplines:Classical physics, Elementary particle and high energy physics, Other physical sciences