Physics and Applications of NIS Junctions.

Ullom, J. N.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Tunnel junctions;    Physics;    Applications;    Bolometers;    Calorimeters;   

RP-ID  :  DE200415006508

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

This paper reviews the physics and applications of Normal-Insulator-Superconductor (NIS) tunnel junctions. The current-voltage properties of NIS junctions are diode-like with a strong temperature dependence. Hence, these structures can be used as sensitive thermometers at temperatures well below the energy gap,(Delta), of the superconducting electrode. For junction voltages comparable to(Delta)/q, current flow removes energy from the normal electrode. This property has been exploited to build refrigerators capable of cooling thin-film circuits from 0.3 K to 0.1 K. Calorimeters and bolometers for the detection of X-rays and millimeter-wave radiation, respectively, have successfully been built from NIS junctions. NIS junctions have also been used to probe the superconducting state. Finally, recent ideas for the use of NIS junctions as simple circuit elements are described.