Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore. argo
Sensors (Basel). 2012;12(5):6049-74. doi: 10.3390/s120506049. Epub 2012 May 10.
Superconducting point contacts have been used for measuring magnetic polarizations, identifying magnetic impurities, electronic structures, and even the vibrational modes of small molecules. Due to intrinsically small energy scale in the subgap structures of the supercurrent determined by the size of the superconducting energy gap, superconductors provide ultrahigh sensitivities for high resolution spectroscopies. The so-called Andreev reflection process between normal metal and superconductor carries complex and rich information which can be utilized as powerful sensor when fully exploited. In this review, we would discuss recent experimental and theoretical developments in the supercurrent transport through superconducting point contacts and their relevance to sensing applications, and we would highlight their current issues and potentials. A true utilization of the method based on Andreev reflection analysis opens up possibilities for a new class of ultrasensitive sensors.
超导点接触已被用于测量磁极化、识别磁性杂质、电子结构，甚至小分子的振动模式。由于超导电流中超导能隙大小决定的亚带隙结构中内在的小能量尺度，超导材料为高分辨率光谱学提供了超高灵敏度。在正常金属和超导体之间的所谓的安德烈夫反射过程中携带复杂而丰富的信息，当被充分利用时，它可以作为强大的传感器加以利用。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论通过超导点接触的超导电流传输的最新实验和理论进展及其与传感应用的相关性，并强调它们当前的问题和潜力。基于安德烈夫反射分析的方法的真正利用为一类新的超高灵敏度传感器开辟了可能性。
