Tunneling Spectroscopy of Two-Dimensional Materials Based on Via Contacts.

We introduce a novel planar tunneling architecture for van der Waals heterostructures based on via contacts, namely, metallic contacts embedded into through-holes in hexagonal boron nitride (BN). We use the via-based tunneling method to study the single-particle density of states of two different two-dimensional (2D) materials, NbSe and graphene. In NbSe devices, we characterize the barrier strength and interface disorder for barrier thicknesses of 0, 1, and 2 layers of BN and study the dependence on the tunnel-contact area down to (44 ± 14) nm.

Making high-quality quantum microwave devices with van der Waals superconductors.

Ultra low-loss microwave materials are crucial for enhancing quantum coherence and scalability of superconducting qubits. Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure is an attractive platform for quantum devices due to the single-crystal structure of the constituent two-dimensional (2D) layered materials and the lack of dangling bonds at their atomically sharp interfaces. However, new fabrication and characterization techniques are required to determine whether these structures can achieve low loss in the microwave regime.

Andreev Reflections in NbN/Graphene Junctions under Large Magnetic Fields.

Hybrid superconductor/graphene (SC/g) junctions are excellent candidates for investigating correlations between Cooper pairs and quantum Hall (QH) edge modes. Experimental studies are challenging as Andreev reflections are extremely sensitive to junction disorder, and high magnetic fields are required to form QH edge states. We fabricated low-resistance SC/g interfaces, composed of graphene edge contacted with NbN with a barrier strength of ≈ 0.

Nonmonotonic Temperature-Dependent Dissipation at Nonequilibrium in Atomically Thin Clean-Limit Superconductors.

Resistance in superconductors arises from the motion of vortices driven by flowing supercurrents or external electromagnetic fields and may be strongly affected by thermal or quantum fluctuations. The common expectation is that as the temperature is lowered, vortex motion is suppressed, leading to a decreased resistance. We show experimentally that in clean-limit atomically thin 2H-NbSe the resistance below the superconducting transition temperature may be nonmonotonic, passing through a minimum before increasing again as the temperature is decreased further.

Via Method for Lithography Free Contact and Preservation of 2D Materials.

Atomically thin 2D materials span the common components of electronic circuits as metals, semiconductors, and insulators, and can manifest correlated phases such as superconductivity, charge density waves, and magnetism. An ongoing challenge in the field is to incorporate these 2D materials into multilayer heterostructures with robust electrical contacts while preventing disorder and degradation. In particular, preserving and studying air-sensitive 2D materials has presented a significant challenge since they readily oxidize under atmospheric conditions.

Xanthopterin in the Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis): light absorbance is increased with maturation of yellow pigment granules.

The Oriental hornet bears both brown and yellow colors on its cuticle. The brown component is contributed by the pigment melanin, which is dispersed in the brown cuticle and provides protection against insolation, while the yellow-colored part contains within pockets in the cuticle granules possessing a yellow pigment. These yellow granules (YG) are formed about 2 days prior to eclosion of the imago, and their production continues for about 3 days posteclosion.