Electronic Coolers Based on Superconducting Tunnel Junctions: Fundamentals and Applications

• DOI: 10.1007/s10909-014-1101-0
• Publication Date: 2014-02-10T20:06:46Z
• Authors: H. Courtois; F. W. J. Hekking; H. Q. Nguyen; C. B. Winkelmann
• Keywords: [PHYS.COND.CM-S]Physics [physics]/Condensed Matter [cond-mat]/Superconductivity [cond-mat.supr-con]; Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con); Condensed Matter - Superconductivity; FOS: Physical sciences; 530; 7. Clean energy

Thermo-electric transport at the nano-scale is a rapidly developing topic, in particular in superconductor-based hybrid devices. In this review paper, we first discuss the fundamental principles of electronic cooling in mesoscopic superconducting hybrid structures, the related limitations and applications. We review recent work performed in Grenoble on the effects of Andreev reflection, photonic heat transport, phonon cooling, as well as on an innovative fabrication technique for powerful coolers.<br/>arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1301.3612<br/>