Size dependence of the Josephson critical behavior in pyrolytic graphite TEM lamellae

Supercond. Sci. Technol. 27, 115014 (2014)

A. Ballestar, T. T. Heikkilä, and P. Esquinazi

Abstract

We have studied the transport characteristics of TEM lamellae of different widths obtained from a graphite sample with electrical contacts at the edges of the embedded interfaces. The temperature dependence of the resistance, as well as the current-voltage characteristics, are compatible with the existence of Josephson-coupled superconducting regions. The transition temperature at which the Josephson behavior sets in decreases with a decreasing interface width and vanishes for widths below 200 nm. This interface-size dependence provides an explanation for differences observed in the transport behavior of graphite-based samples with interfaces, and it appears to be related to the influence of weak localization effects on the superconducting critical temperature.

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