Cooper-pair-mediated coherence between two normal metals

Abstract

Two electrons bound in a singlet state have long provided a conceptual and pedagogical framework for understanding the non-local nature of entangled quantum objects. As bound singlet electrons separated by a coherence length of up to several hundred nanometres occur naturally in conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superconductors in the form of Cooper pairs, recent theoretical investigations have focused on whether electrons in spatially separated normal-metal probes placed within a coherence length of each other on a superconductor can be quantum mechanically coupled by the singlet pairs. This coupling is predicted to occur through the non-local processes of elastic cotunnelling and crossed Andreev reflection. In crossed Andreev reflection, the constituent electrons of a Cooper pair are sent into different normal probes while retaining their mutual coherence. In elastic cotunnelling, a sub-gap electron approaching the superconductor from one normal probe undergoes coherent, long-range tunnelling to the second probe that is mediated by the Cooper pairs in the condensate. Here, we present experimental evidence for coherent, non-local coupling between electrons in two normal metals linked by a superconductor. The coupling is observed in non-local resistance oscillations that are periodic in an externally applied magnetic flux. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.