Speaker
Description
Point Contact Tunnel Spectroscopy (PCTS) is a powerful technique for probing the local density of states (DOS) of superconductors. Tunneling spectra provide direct insight into key superconducting properties, including the energy gap, inelastic scattering processes, and the presence of defects such as normal-conducting phases and magnetic impurities.
In contrast to conventional DC transport measurements, PCTS offers a local probe of superconducting properties with high sensitivity to spatial inhomogeneities. This makes it particularly well suited for superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) applications, where localized defects can give rise to RF losses and ultimately limit cavity performance.
In this presentation, I will show how PCTS can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify loss mechanisms relevant to RF performance. Results from materials of current interest to the SRF community will be discussed, such as Nb and Nb₃Sn thin-film technologies for next-generation SRF cavities.