Tunneling study of cavity grade Nb: possible magnetic scattering at the surface

Bibliographic Details
Title: Tunneling study of cavity grade Nb: possible magnetic scattering at the surface
Authors: Proslier, T., Zasadzinski, J. F., Cooley, L., Antoine, C., Moore, J., Pellin, M., Norem, J., Gray, K. E.
Publication Year: 2008
Collection: Condensed Matter
Subject Terms: Condensed Matter - Superconductivity, Condensed Matter - Materials Science
More Details: Tunneling spectroscopy was performed on Nb pieces prepared by the same processes used to etch and clean superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities. Air exposed, electropolished Nb exhibited a surface superconducting gap delta=1.55 meV, characteristic of clean, bulk Nb. However the tunneling density of states (DOS) was broadened significantly. The Nb pieces treated with the same mild baking used to improve the Q-slope in SRF cavities, reveal a sharper DOS. Good fits to the DOS were obtained using Shiba theory, suggesting that magnetic scattering of quasiparticles is the origin of the gapless surface superconductivity and a heretofore unrecognized contributor to the Q-slope problem of Nb SRF cavities.
Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures
Document Type: Working Paper
DOI: 10.1063/1.2913764
Access URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/0803.2852
Accession Number: edsarx.0803.2852
Database: arXiv
More Details
DOI:10.1063/1.2913764