Quantum suppression of superconductivity in ultrathin nanowires

Abstract

We report measurements on ultrathin (<10 nm) nanowires produced by coating carbon nanotubes with a superconducting amorphous MoGe alloy. We find that nanowires can be superconducting or insulating depending on their normal state resistance $R_{N}$ compared to $R_{q}=h/(2e)^{2}$ -- the quantum resistance for Cooper pairs. If $R_{N}< R_{q}$ the tunneling of quantum phase slips (QPS) is prohibited due to strong damping, and so the wires stay superconducting. The insulating state, observed if $R_{N}> R_{q}$, is explained in terms of proliferation of quantum phase slips and corresponding localization of Cooper pairs. The observed superconductor-insulator transition is analogous to the dissipative phase transition which takes place in Josephson Junctions at $R_{N}= R_{q}$ (Penttila et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. Vol.82, p.1004, 1999)