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Electron-Phonon Decoupling in Disordered Insulators

M. Ovadia, B. Sacépé, and D. Shahar
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 176802 – Published 28 April 2009
Physics logo See Synopsis: Overheated electrons in disordered films

Abstract

The current-voltage characteristics measured in the insulating state terminating the superconducting phase in disordered superconductors exhibit sharp threshold voltages, where the current abruptly changes by as much as 5 orders of magnitude. We analyze the current-voltage characteristics of an amorphous indium oxide film in the field-tuned insulating state, and show that they are consistent with a bistability of the electron temperature, and with a significant overheating of the electron system above the lattice temperature. An analysis of these current jumps indicates that, in the insulating state, the electrons are thermally decoupled from the phonon bath.

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  • Received 28 January 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.176802

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Overheated electrons in disordered films

Published 11 May 2009

Giant jumps in the current-voltage characteristics of disordered films could be the first evidence that electron transport in insulators can occur in the absence of phonons.

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Authors & Affiliations

M. Ovadia, B. Sacépé*, and D. Shahar

  • Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel

  • *Present address: Département de Physique de la Matière Condensée, Université de Genève, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève, Switzerland.

See Also

Jumps in Current-Voltage Characteristics in Disordered Films

Boris L. Altshuler, Vladimir E. Kravtsov, Igor V. Lerner, and Igor L. Aleiner
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 176803 (2009)

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Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 17 — 1 May 2009

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