The controlled growth of nanowires (NWs) with dimensions comparable to the Fermi wavelengths of the charge carriers allows fundamental investigations of quantum confinement phenomena. Here, we present studies of proximity-induced superconductivity in undoped Ge/Si core/shell NW heterostructures contacted by superconducting leads. By using a top gate electrode to modulate the carrier density in ...

In this paper we consider the asymptotic behavior of the GinzburgLandau model for superconductivity in 3-d, in various energy regimes. We rigorously derive, through an analysis via Γ-convergence, a reduced model for the vortex density, and deduce a curvature equation for the vortex lines. In the companion paper [2] we describe further applications to superconductivity and superfluidity, such as...

In this paper we consider the Rapid Single-Flux Quantum (RSFQ) circuits with reduced Josephson current density and especially deal with one of the basic building blocks of these electronics the DC to SFQ converter. For future promising RSFQ applications the critical current of the Josephson junctions should be reduced (by reduction of Josephson current density) to several μA, resulting into val...

Charge and entropy transport properties of the heavy-fermion compound CeRh0.58Ir0.42In5 were measured as a function of pressure. At atmospheric pressure, local moments in the compound order antiferromagnetically below TN=3.5 K, and coexisting superconductivity develops below T on c =1.04 K. Applying pressure suppresses magnetic order, but a potential quantum-critical point is hidden by a dome o...

Nanoscale superconductor/semiconductor hybrid devices are assembled from indium arsenide semiconductor nanowires individually contacted by aluminum-based superconductor electrodes. Below 1 kelvin, the high transparency of the contacts gives rise to proximity-induced superconductivity. The nanowires form superconducting weak links operating as mesoscopic Josephson junctions with electrically tun...

Since the discovery of high temperature superconductivity, a large effort has been made by the scientific community to investigate this field towards a possible application of the new oxide superconductors to different devices like SMES, magnetic bearings, flywheels energy storage, magnetic shielding, transmission cables, fault current limiters, etc. However, all present day large scale applica...