Model calculations of the proximity effect in finite multilayers

• Published in: Superlattices and microstructures Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 95 - 109
• Main Authors: Ciuhu, C., Lodder, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Mixed state, critical fields, and surface sheath; Multilayers, superlattices , heterostructures; Physics; Properties of type I and type II superconductors; proximity effect, upper critical field, layered systems; Proximity effects, weak links, tunneling phenomena, and Josephson effects; Proximity effects, weak links, tunneling phenomena, and josephson effects, adreev effect, sn and sns junctions; Superconducting films and low-dimensional structures; Superconductivity; proximity effect, upper critical field, layered systems; Theoretical study; Multilayers; Proximity effect; Critical field; Superconductivity
• ISSN: 0749-6036; 1096-3677
• DOI: 10.1006/spmi.2001.0994

The proximity-effect theory developed by Takahashi and Tachiki for infinite superconductor/normal (S/N) multilayers is applied to multilayer systems with a finite number of layers in the growth direction. The purpose is to investigate why previous applications to infinite multilayers fail to describe the measured data satisfactorily. It is shown that surface superconductivity may appear, depending on the thickness of the covering normal metallic layers, on both the top and the bottom. Most of the parameters used refer to the V/Ag system, but systems in which the N metal is also a superconductor are considered as well. The nucleation process is studied as a function of the system parameters, including the transparency of the S/N interface.