Point-Contact Spectroscopy: 145 (Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences) Book

The physical principles of spectroscopy of quasi-particle excitations in metals at low temperatures by means of point contacts are presented. The point contact constitutes a tiny metallic bridge connecting bulk electrodes. The spectroscopic regime corresponding to the contact dimensions range from only a few to tens of nanometers. For contacts larger than the inelastic electron free mean path the thermal regime holds. Along with most thoroughly studied phono excitations, the interaction of electrons with other quasiparticles (magnons, crystal-field electron excitations, paramagnetic impurities, two-level systems, etc), are reviewed. Various experimental techniques for point contact production are described, and many examples of point -contact spectra are presented for pure metals, alloys and compounds, as well as for semimetals and semiconductors, heavy fermion systems, Kond-lattices, mixed valence compounds and so forth. Superconducting point contacts are considered in respect to Andreev reflection and Josephson effects. Special attention is paid to contact conductance fluctuation, are regarded as well as new trends of research are outlined.Read More