Electric Field-Induced Surface Melting of Gold Observed In Situ at Room Temperature and at Atomic Resolution Using TEM

Author Correction: Induced unconventional superconductivity on the surface states of Bi2Te3 topological insulator

Topological superconductivity is central to a variety of novel phenomena involving the interplay between topologically ordered phases and broken-symmetry states. The key ingredient is an unconventional order parameter, with an orbital component containing a chiral p x + ip y wave term. Here we present phase-sensitive measurements, based on the quantum interference in nanoscale Josephson junctions, realized by using Bi2Te3 topological insulator. We demonstrate that the induced superconductivity is unconventional and consistent with a sign-changing order parameter, such as a chiral p x + ip y component. The magnetic field pattern of the junctions shows a dip at zero externally applied magneti…

Electric-field-controlled reversible order-disorder switching of a metal tip surface

While it is well established that elevated temperatures can induce surface roughening of metal surfaces, the effect of a high electric field on the atomic structure at ambient temperature has not been investigated in detail. Here we show with atomic resolution using in situ transmission electron microscopy how intense electric fields induce reversible switching between perfect crystalline and disordered phases of gold surfaces at room temperature. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the mechanism behind the structural change can be attributed to a vanishing energy cost in forming surface defects in high electric fields. Our results demonstrate how surface processes can be d…

Induced unconventional superconductivity on the surface states of Bi2Te3 topological insulator

Topological superconductivity is central to a variety of novel phenomena involving the interplay between topologically ordered phases and broken-symmetry states. The key ingredient is an unconventional order parameter, with an orbital component containing a chiral $p_x$ + i$p_y$ wave term. Here we present phase-sensitive measurements, based on the quantum interference in nanoscale Josephson junctions, realized by using Bi$_2$Te$_3$ topological insulator. We demonstrate that the induced superconductivity is unconventional and consistent with a sign-changing order parameter, such as a chiral $p_x$ + i$p_y$ component. The magnetic field pattern of the junctions shows a dip at zero externally a…

Maxwell and Sharvin conductance in gold point contacts investigated using TEM-STM

We have investigated the conductance of gold point contacts using a scanning tunneling microscope ~STM! inside a transmission electron microscope ~TEM!. Measuring the conductance of these point contacts as a function of radius, we could directly compare it with theories both in the ballistic regime ~Sharvin! as well as in the diffusive regime ~Maxwell!. The width of the contacts were between a single atom and 20 nm. Using an interpolation formula ~Wexler! between the two limits, we obtain a mean free path of 4 nm, which is about ten times shorter than the room-temperature bulk value. The low value indicates an enhanced scattering, which is not due to high temperature in the point contact, i…

Preparation and properties of Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 thin films

Anex situ process has been developed to produce thin superconducting Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 films. The properties of films grown on different substrates using different annealing regimes were studied. Critical temperatures of 103–107 K were measured on films prepared in a broad range of annealing temperatures on SrTiO3, LaAlO3, and Y-ZrO2 substrates. A critical current density,Jc, of 2×106 A/cm2 at 77 K was measured on LaAlO3. Film morphology was studied by SEM, AFM, and STM.