Superconducting nanofilm fabrication and characterization workspace
SEM image of typical fabricated NbRe-based SNSPD. Inset: zoomed-in image of the detector.
Nb thin film on porous silicon substrate
UHV 3-sources magnetron sputtering
SEM image of typical fabricated NbRe-based SNSPD. Inset: zoomed-in image of the detector.
S/F hybrids
SNSPD
& SMSPD
Research Activity
​The research activity of the group is devoted to the investigation of the superconducting properties of ultrathin films and artificial heterostructures based on conventional metals.
The group is historically intensively involved in the study of superconductor/ferromagnetic (S/F) hybrids and to the physical phenomena related to the inhomogeneous character of the superconducting order parameter in these systems.
More recently, the transport properties of non-centrosymmetric superconductors were also investigated. In particular, the NbRe both in single crystals and thin films form was studied.
NbRe and NbReN thin films were realized for the first time in the research group and their possible application in the field of Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPS) was explored. In particular the firts NbRe-based SNSPD were realized in collaboration with TU Delft and its spin-off Single Quantum. Superconducting Microwire Single Photon Detectors based on NbRe films were realized in collaboration with Università di Napoli Federico II.