Superconductivity in a two-dimensional electron gas

Philip Phillips, Yi Wan, Ivar Martin, Sergey Knysh, Denis Dalidovich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In a series of recent experiments, Kravchenko and colleagues observed unexpectedly that a two-dimensional electron gas in zero magnetic field can become conducting at low temperatures: the two-dimensionality was imposed by confining the electron gas to the interface between two semiconductors. The observation of this conducting phase is surprising, as the conventional theory of metals precludes the existences of a metallic site at zero temperature in two dimensions. Nevertheless, there are now several experiments confirming the existence of the new conducting phase in dilute two-dimensional electron gases in zero magnetic field. Here we argue, on the basis of an analysis of these experiments and general theoretical grounds, that this phase is in fact a superconductor with an inhomogeneous charge density.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)253-257
Number of pages5
JournalNature
Volume395
Issue number6699
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 17 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Superconductivity in a two-dimensional electron gas'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this