Diffusive Josephson junctions made out of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

We have investigated electrical transport in diffusive multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) contacted using superconducting leads made of Ti/Al/Ti sandwich structure. We measure proximity-induced supercurrents up to Icm 1.3 nA and find tunability by the gate voltage due to variation of the Thouless energy via the diffusion constant that is controlled by scattering in the MWNT. The modeling of these results by long, diffusive SNS junctions, supplemented with phase diffusion effects is discussed: the agreement between theory and experiments is tested especially on the basis of the temperature dependence of the Josephson coupling energy. In order to prove conclusively that the diffusive model works for MWNT proximity junctions, we propose an improved measurement scheme that is based on the kinetic inductance of superconducting junctions. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.