Impact of Surface Conditions on the Superconductivity of Si(111)-(√7 × √3)-In

Shunsuke Yoshizawa; Howon Kim; Takuto Kawakami; Yuki Nagai; Tomonobu Nakayama; Xiao Hu; Yukio Hasegawa; Takashi Uchihashi

doi:10.1380/ejssnt.2015.151

Conference -ISSS-7-

Impact of Surface Conditions on the Superconductivity of Si(111)-(√7 × √3)-In

Shunsuke Yoshizawa, Howon Kim, Takuto Kawakami, Yuki Nagai, Tomonobu Nakayama, Xiao Hu, Yukio Hasegawa, Takashi Uchihashi

Author information

Shunsuke Yoshizawa
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science
Howon Kim
Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo
Takuto Kawakami
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science
Yuki Nagai
CCSE, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Tomonobu Nakayama
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science
Xiao Hu
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science
Yukio Hasegawa
Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo
Takashi Uchihashi
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science

Keywords: Scanning tunneling microscopy, Scanning tunneling spectroscopy, Superconducting surfaces, Indium, Silicon

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2015 Volume 13 Pages 151-154

DOI https://doi.org/10.1380/ejssnt.2015.151

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Abstract

We performed low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy on Si(111)-(√7 × √3)-In in magnetic fields. Superconducting vortices were observed by mapping zero-bias conductance in an area consisting of flat terraces separated by atomic steps. While vortices in the terrace regions have an isotropic shape with a normal-state core, those at the atomic steps have anisotropic shapes and the superconductivity is only weakly suppressed in the cores. These properties are understood as a crossover from a normal vortex to a Josephson vortex. We conclude that the atomic steps work as Josephson junctions limiting the density of supercurrents. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2015.151]

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