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One of the challenges facing condensed matter physics nowadays is to understand the electronic structure of high temperature superconductors. This dissertation compiles our contribution to the experimental information concerning this subject. Tunneling conductance spectroscopy a technique capable of probing the electronic density of states in hybrid structures was used to study the current and spin transport properties across junctions between metallic counterelectrodes and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8- (BSCCO) crystals. Since in these structures the transport is mediated by transmission channels depending on superconductive characteristics, the energy resolved density of states is a signature of the mechanism of superconductivity. For instance, one can observe the superconductive energy gap and the behavior of subgap bound states due to phase sensitive Andreev reflections at the junction interface. In particular, tunneling spectroscopy makes possible the observation of the LOFF state characterized by the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism. Cuprates like BSCCO are highly anisotropic materials and their superconductivity is almost two dimensional, being confined in the CuO2 planes. Therefore, our junctions combine monocrystals of underdoped samples of BSCCO with various thin film counterelectrodes normal metal (Ag), conventional superconductor (Pb) and ferromagnetic metal (Fe) deposited perpendicular onto the cuprate ab-plane (CuO2 plane). We performed measurements on Ag/BSCCO junctions for two current injection directions into the same crystal. We observed that, near the 110 crystal surface, the conductance spectra show a high zero bias peak (ZBCP) which is a manifestation of zero energy Andreev bound states due to an anisotropic superconductive order parameter. Near the 100 surface, the ZBCP is largely suppressed. This is consistent with a predominantly 2 2 x y d - -wave pairing symmetry. In some cases, the ZBCP splits or decreases in amplitude at low temperatures. This is consistent with the existence of a subdominant s-wave (or xy d ) resulting in a mixed d is + state which breaks time reversal symmetry (BTRS). Since we observe this phenomenon in the underdoped case, we do not confirm the possibility of a quantum critical point close to the optimal doping. Our Pb/BSCCO spectra contradict the theory explaining the BTRS by proximity effect. The Fe/BSCCO junctions measure the effect of spin polarization. We explain the recorded 4-peak asymmetric structure by the combined effect of a spin independent BTRS state and a spin filtering exchange energy in the barrier responsible for a large ZBCP splitting. The LOFF state was observed in the proximity region induced on the ferromagnetic side of multilayered-Fe/Ag/BSCCO structures. As expected for the LOFF order parameter, the spectra develops coherent damped oscillations with the Fe layer thickness probing different regions. The magnitude and sign of the oscillation depends on the energy. The conductances at energy zero or equal to the superconductive gap are modulated in antiphase proving that the order parameters takes successively positive and negative values. Changing the junction orientation with 4 p , results in an opposite behavior for the same distance. The maximal amplitudes in one direction is replaced by minima, showing that, besides space, the LOFF state modulation depends on the phase of the high temperature order parameter inducing the proximity

Thin-film niobium mechanically controlled break junctions and resistively shunted niobium mechanically-controlled break junctions were developed and successfully microfabricated. Using these devices, high-stability atomic size contacts were routinely produced and investigated both in the normal and superconducting states. Investigations of the two-level conductance fluctuations in the smallest contacts allowed the calculation of their specific atomic structure. Embedding resistive shunts close to the superconducting atomic-sized junctions affected the coherence of the electronic transport. Finally, point contact spectroscopy measurements provide evidence of the interaction of conduction electrons with the mechanical degrees of freedom of the atomic-size niobium contacts.

The unique properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) show a great deal of potential for nanoelectronic devices, spintronic devices, biosensing and chemical sensing applications. Their applicability as interconnects for spintronic devices derives from their one-dimensionality and theoretically predicted preservation of spin current. In this work, we combine an investigation of spin polarization in materials such as half metallic oxides in thin film and bulk form with studies on several aspects of CNTs for sensing and spin transport applications. These two areas of study are intimately related within the umbrella of spin-electronics and nanoscale sensors that are being pursued with great topical interest in recent times. A measurement system has been developed to perform Point-Contact Andreev Reflection (PCAR) in the presence of variable magnetic fields and temperatures. It was designed and built, accepted for patent by the USF, and submitted to the U.S. Patent Office. A study of spin polarization in superconductor-magnet junctions has been performed over a wide range in magnetic fields (0 to 3T) and temperature (2 to 300K)on several systems including copper, strontium ruthenate, and chromium dioxide. Spin transport experiments have been extended to single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks inorder to explore spin transport in nanotube networks for potential sensor applications.Carbon nanotube networks have been used as the electronic material for chemical and biological sensing where capacitance and conductance response to the adsorbtion of a chemical or biological analyte are simultaneously measured and a very fast response and recovery is observed. Chemical specificity has been investigated through different means since a goal of the U.S. Navy is to have an array of these sensors, each chemically specific to a unique analyte. Finally, research is ongoing in the analysis of our PCAR spectra in the strontium ruthenate series and the lanthinum strontiu m manganite series to investigate the square root dependence of the background conductance data and the fundamental aspects of the fitting procedure by using a chi-square statistical model to more accurately determine the spin polarization, P.

abstract: A theoretical study of a three-dimensional (3D) N/S interface with arbitrary spin polarization and interface geometry is presented. The 3D model gives the same intrinsic spin polarization and superconducting gap dependence as the 1D model. This demonstrates that the 1D model can be use to t 3D data. Using this model, a Heusler alloy is investigated. Andreev reflection measurements show that the spin polarization is 80% in samples sputtered on unheated MgO(100) substrates and annealed at high temperatures. However, the spin polarization is considerably smaller in samples deposited on heated substrates. Ferromagnetic FexSi􀀀x alloys have been proposed as potential spin injectors into silicon with a substantial spin polarization. Andreev Reflection Spectroscopy (ARS) is utilized to determine the spin polarization of both amorphous and crystalline Fe65Si35 alloys. The amorphous phase has a significantly higher spin polarization than that of the crystalline phase. In this thesis, (1111) Fe SmO0:82F0:18FeAs and Pb superconductors are used to measure the spin polarization of a highly spin-polarized material, La0:67Sr0:33MnO3. Both materials yield the same intrinsic spin polarization, therefore, Fe-superconductors can be used in ARS. Based on the behavior of the differential conductance for highly spin polarized LSMO and small polarization of Au, it can be concluded that the Fe-Sc is not a triplet superconductor. Zero bias anomaly (ZBA), in point contact Andreev reflection (PCAR), has been utilized as a characteristic feature to reveal many novel physics. Complexities at a normal metal/superconducting interface often cause nonessential ZBA-like features, which may be mistaken as ZBA. In this work, it is shown that an extrinsic ZBA, which is due to the contact resistance, cannot be suppressed by a highly spin-polarized current while a nonessential ZBA cannot be affected the contact resistance. Finally, Cu/Cu multilayer GMR structures were fabricated and the GMR% measured at 300 K and 4.5 K gave responses of 63% and 115% respectively. Not only do the GMR structures have a large enhancement of resistance, but by applying an external magnetic eld it is shown that, unlike most materials, the spin polarization can be tuned to values of 0.386 to 0.415 from H = 0 kOe to H = 15 kOe. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Physics 2015

Orientador: Guillermo Gerardo Cabrera Oyarzun / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Fisica Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-24T19:09:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Siqueira_EzequielCosta_D.pdf: 16155551 bytes, checksum: 43337169b3f9ac0ffbe444e3859ff790 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Neste trabalho é estudado o transporte quântico em nanoestruturas híbridas compostas por pontos quânticos (PQ) duplos acoplados a eletrodos supercondutores (S) e ferromagnéticos (F). A primeira nanoestrutura, denotada por F - PQa - PQb - S consiste em dois PQs em série acoplados a um eletrodo ferromagnético e outro supercondutor. O segundo sistema, denotado por (F1, F2) - PQa - PQb - S consiste em dois PQs em série acoplados a dois eletrodos ferromagnéticos e um supercondutor. Através do método de funções de Green de não equilíbrio foram obtidas expressões para a corrente elétrica, condutância diferencial, densidade local de estados (LDOS) e a transmitância para energias inferiores ao gap supercondutor. Neste regime, o mecanismo de transmissão de carga é a reflexão de Andreev, a qual permite controlar a corrente através da polarização do ferromagneto. A presença de interações nos PQs é considerada usando um tratamento de campo médio. Para o sistema F - PQa - PQb - S, as interações tendem a localizar os elétrons nos PQs levando a um padrão assimétrico da LDOS reduzindo a transmissão através da nanoestrutura. Em particular, a interação intra PQ levanta a degenerescência de spin reduzindo o valor máximo da corrente devido ao desequilíbrio nas populações de spin up e spin down. Regiões de condutância diferencial negativa (CDN) aparecem em determinados valores do potencial aplicado, como resultado da competição entre o espalhamento Andreev e as correlações eletrônicas. Aplicando-se um potencial de gate nos pontos quânticos é possível sintonizar o efeito mudando a região onde este fenômeno ocorre. Para o sistema (F1, F2) - PQa - PQb - S observou-se que o sinal da magnetoresistência pode mudar de positivo para negativo mudando-se o sinal do potencial aplicado. Além disso é possível controlar a corrente no primeiro eletrodo mudando-se o valor do potencial no segundo ferromagneto. Este tipo de controle pode ser interessante do ponto de vista de aplicações desde que é um comportamento similar a um transistor. Na presença de interações nos PQs, observou-se novamente regiões de CDN para determinados valores do potencial aplicado mesmo para quando os ferromagnetos estão completamente polarizados. Desta forma, a interação entre supercondutividade e correlações eletrônicas permitiu observar fenômenos originais mostrando que este sistemas podem ser utilizados em aplicações tecnológicas futuras / Abstract: In this work we studied the quantum transport in two hybrid nanostructures composed of double quantum dots (DQD)s coupled to superconductor (S) and ferromagnetic (F) leads. The first nanostructure, denoted by F - QDa - QDb - S, is composed of a ferromagnet, two quantum dots, and a superconductor connected in series. In the second nanostructure, denoted by ( F1, F2) - QDa - Q Db - S, a second ferromagnetic lead is added and coupled to the first QD. By using the non-equilibrium Green's function approach, we have calculated the electric current, the differential conductance and the transmittance for energies within the superconductor gap. In this regime, the mechanism of charge transmission is the Andreev re°ection, which allows for a control of the current through the ferromagnet polarization. We have also included interdot and intradot interactions, and have analyzed their influence through a mean field approximation. For the F - QDa - QDb - S system the presence of interactions tend to localize the electrons at the double-dot system, leading to an asymmetric pattern for the density of states at the dots, and thus reducing the transmission probability through the device. In particular, for non-zero polarization, the intradot interaction splits the spin degeneracy, reducing the maximum value of the current due to different spin-up and spin-down densities of states. Negative differential conductance (NDC) appears for some regions of the voltage bias, as a result of the interplay of the Andreev scattering with electronic correlations. By applying a gate voltage at the dots, one can tune the effect, changing the voltage region where this novel phenomenon appears. In the (F1, F2) - QDa - QDb - S, we have found that the signal of the magnetoresistance can be changed through the external potential applied in the ferromagnets. In addition, it is possible to control the current of the first ferromagnet (F1) through the potential applied in the second one (F2). This transistor-like behavior can be useful in technological applications. In the presence of interaction at the dots it was observed the NDC effect even when the electrodes were fully polarized. The results presented in this thesis show that the interplay between the superconductor correlation and electronic interactions can give rise to original effects which can be used in future technological applications / Doutorado / Física da Matéria Condensada / Doutor em Ciências

abstract: Attaining a sufficiently large critical current density (Jc) in magnetic-barrier Josephson junctions has been one of the greatest challenges to the development of dense low-power superconductor memories. Many experimentalists have used various combinations of superconductor (S) and ferromagnetic (F) materials, with limited success towards the goal of attaining a useful Jc. This trial-and-error process is expensive and time consuming. An improvement in the fundamental understanding of transport through the ferromagnetic layers and across the superconductor-ferromagnetic interface could potentially give fast, accurate predictions of the transport properties in devices and help guide the experimental studies. In this thesis, parameters calculated using density functional methods are used to model transport across Nb/0.8 nm Fe/Nb/Nb and Nb/3.8 nm Ni /Nb/Nb Josephson junctions. The model simulates the following transport processes using realistic parameters from density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation: (a) For the first electron of the Cooper pair in the superconductor to cross the interface- conservation of energy and crystal momentum parallel to the interface (kll). (b) For the second electron to be transmitted coherently- satisfying the Andreev reflection interfacial boundary conditions and crossing within a coherence time, (c) For transmission of the coherent pair through the ferromagnetic layer- the influence of the exchange field on the electrons’ wavefunction and (d) For transport through the bulk and across the interfaces- the role of pair-breaking from spin-flip scattering of the electrons. Our model shows the utility of using realistic electronic-structure band properties of the materials used, rather the mean-field exchange energy and empirical bulk and interfacial material parameters used by earlier workers. [Kontos et al. Phys. Rev Lett, 93(13), 137001. (2004); Demler et al. Phys. Rev. B, 55(22), 15174. (1997)]. The critical current densities obtained from out model for Nb/0.8 nm Fe/Nb is 104 A/cm2 and for Nb/3.8 nm Ni/Nb is 7.1*104 A/cm2. These values fall very close to those observed experimentally- i.e. for Nb/0.8 nm Fe/Nb is 8*103 A/cm2 [Robinson et al" Phys. Rev. B 76, no. 9, 094522. (2007)] and for Nb/3.8 nm of Ni/Nb is 3*104 A/cm2 [Blum et al Physical review letters 89, no. 18, 187004. (2002). This indicates that our approach could potentially be useful in optimizing the properties of ferromagnetic-barrier structures for use in low-energy superconducting memories. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Materials Science and Engineering 2018

Abstract Interacting many-body problems are central to most fields of physics. In condensed matter physics, the systems of interest consists of a number of bodies on the order of Avogadro's constant, ~10²³. The precise modeling of such systems is usually impossible. Under certain circumstances however, even these problems can become tractable. One such circumstance is that of a Fermi liquid. At sufficiently low temperatures, in describing the dynamics of a system of interacting fermions, it is possible to forgo description of the fermions themselves, and instead concentrate on the collective excitations of the entire fermion system. These collective excitations are called quasiparticles. In this thesis we study two phenomena related to the motion of objects in a Fermi liquid. First, we study the transmission of transverse oscillations through a thin film of normal Fermi liquid. The dynamics of normal Fermi liquid are described by Landau's Fermi liquid theory. Landau's theory predicts the existence of new modes of sound under conditions where sound ordinarily would not propagate. Using the equations of motion for the Fermi liquid quasiparticles, we calculate the linear response of a Fermi liquid film to the transverse oscillations of a planar substrate under a wide range of conditions. We present the linear response in terms of the film's acoustic impedance and study the effects of quasiparticle collisions and of the Fermi liquid interactions. The second phenomenon we study is the supercritical motion of a wire in a superfluid Fermi liquid. The prevailing assumption is that if the velocity of an object moving in a superfluid Fermi liquid surpasses a characteristic critical velocity, the object experiences a sudden onset of viscous forces. This viscosity is caused by the escape of quasiparticles, produced by pair breaking on the surface of the object, into the surrounding superfluid. We study Andreev reflection of the quasiparticles by the surrounding superfluid flow field, and modifications to the flow caused by pair breaking, as possible mechanisms for low-dissipation motion above the critical velocity. / Original publications The original publications are not included in the electronic version of the dissertation. Kuorelahti, J. A., Tuorila, J. A., & Thuneberg, E. V. (2016). Fermi liquid theory applied to a film on an oscillating substrate. Physical Review B, 94(18). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.94.184103 Kuorelahti, J. A., & Thuneberg, E. V. (2018). Two-parameter boundary condition applied to transverse acoustic impedance of a Fermi liquid. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 969, 12010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/969/1/012010 http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfi-fe2018060425173 Kuorelahti, J. A., Laine, S. M., & Thuneberg, E. V. (2018). Models for supercritical motion in a superfluid Fermi liquid. Physical Review B, 98(14). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.98.144512 http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfi-fe2018112148794

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