6533b851fe1ef96bd12a9695
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Primary thermometry with nanoscale tunnel junctions
J. P. KauppinenK. P. HirviJukka P. PekolaM. A. Paalanensubject
Materials scienceCondensed matter physicsMonte Carlo methodConductanceCondensed Matter::Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall EffectCondensed Matter PhysicsAtomic and Molecular Physics and OpticsTunnel effectElectrical resistance and conductanceTunnel junctionThermometerElectrodeGeneral Materials ScienceVoltagedescription
We have found current-voltage (I-V) and conductance (dI/dV) characteristics of arrays of nanoscale tunnel junctions between normal metal electrodes to exhibit suitable features for primary thermometry. The current through a uniform array depends on the ratio of the thermal energy kBT and the electrostatic charging energy E c of the islands between the junctions and is completely blocked by Coulomb repulsion at T = 0 and at small voltages eV/2 ≤ Ec. In the opposite limit, kBT ≫ Ec, the width of the conductance minimum scales linearly and universally with T and N, the number of tunnel junctions, and qualifies as a primary thermometer. The zero bias drop in the conductance is proportional to T−1 and can be used as a secondary thermometer. We will show with Monte Carlo simulations how background charge and nonuniformities of the array will affect the thermometer.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-10-01 | Journal of Low Temperature Physics |