Tunneling density of states of granular metals

I. S. Beloborodov, A. V. Lopatin, G. Schwiete, and V. M. Vinokur
Phys. Rev. B 70, 073404 – Published 24 August 2004

Abstract

We investigate the effect of Coulomb interactions on the tunneling density of states (DOS) of granular metallic systems at the onset of Coulomb blockade regime in two and three dimensions (d=2,3). Using the renormalization group technique we derive the analytical expressions for the DOS as a function of temperature T and energy ε. We show that samples with the bare intergranular tunneling conductance gT0 less than the critical value gTC=(12πd)ln(ECδ), where EC and δ are the charging energy and the mean energy level spacing in a single grain, respectively, are insulators with a hard gap in the DOS at temperatures T0. In 3d systems the critical conductance gTC separates insulating and metallic phases at zero temperature, whereas in the granular films gTC separates insulating states with the hard (at gT0<gTC) and soft (at gT0>gTC) gaps. The gap in the DOS begins to develop at temperatures T*ECgT0exp(2πdgT0) and reaches the value ΔT* at T0.

  • Figure
  • Received 1 June 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.70.073404

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

I. S. Beloborodov1, A. V. Lopatin1, G. Schwiete1,2, and V. M. Vinokur1

  • 1Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA
  • 2Theoretische Physik III, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 70, Iss. 7 — 15 August 2004

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