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Per Delsing

Publications and source records attributed to Per Delsing.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Quantum dynamics of a d-wave Josephson junction.

Here we present the direct observation of macroscopic quantum properties in an all high-critical-temperature superconductor d-wave Josephson junction. Although dissipation caused by low-energy excitations is expected to strongly suppress macroscopic quantum effects, we demonstrate energy level quantization in our d-wave Josephson junction. The result indicates that the role of dissipation mechanisms in high-temperature superconductors has to be revised, and it may also have consequences for the class of solid-state "quiet" quantum bits with superior coherence time.

Journal Article↗

A single electron transistor on an atomic force microscope probe.

We report fabrication as well as proof-of-concept experiments of a noninvasive sensor of weak nanoscale electric fields. The sensor is a single electron transistor (SET) placed at the tip of a noncontact atomic force microscope (AFM). This is a general technology to make any nanometer-sized lithography pattern at edges or tips of a cantilever. The height control of the AFM allows the SET to hover a few nanometers above the substrate, improving both the electric field sensitivity and lateral resolution of the electrometer. Our AFM-SET sensor is prepared by a scalable technology. It means that the probe can be routinely fabricated and replaced, if broken.

Electrons↗

Current measurement by real-time counting of single electrons.

The fact that electrical current is carried by individual charges has been known for over 100 years, yet this discreteness has not been directly observed so far. Almost all current measurements involve measuring the voltage drop across a resistor, using Ohm's law, in which the discrete nature of charge does not come into play. However, by sending a direct current through a microelectronic circuit with a chain of islands connected by small tunnel junctions, the individual electrons can be observed one by one. The quantum mechanical tunnelling of single charges in this one-dimensional array is time correlated, and consequently the detected signal has the average frequency f = I/e, where I is the current and e is the electron charge. Here we report a direct observation of these time-correlated single-electron tunnelling oscillations, and show electron counting in the range 5 fA-1 pA. This represents a fundamentally new way to measure extremely small currents, without offset or drift. Moreover, our current measurement, which is based on electron counting, is self-calibrated, as the measured frequency is related to the current only by a natural constant.

Journal Article↗