Electronic Refrigeration at the Quantum Limit

Abstract

We demonstrate quantum limited electronic refrigeration of a metallic island in a low temperature micro-circuit. We show that matching the impedance of the circuit enables refrigeration at a distance, of about 50 um in our case, through superconducting leads with a cooling power determined by the quantum of thermal conductance. In a reference sample with a mismatched circuit this effect is absent. Our results are consistent with the concept of electromagnetic heat transport. We observe and analyze the crossover between electromagnetic and quasiparticle heat flux in a superconductor.