English

Why does a metal-superconductor junction have a resistance?

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2013-04-08 v2

Abstract

This is a tutorial article based on a lecture delivered in June 1999 at the NATO Advanced Study Institute in Ankara. The phenomenon of Andreev reflection is introduced as the electronic analogue of optical phase-conjugation. In the optical problem, a disordered medium backed by a phase-conjugating mirror can become completely transparent. Yet, a disordered metal connected to a superconductor has the same resistance as in the normal state. The resolution of this paradox teaches us a fundamental difference between phase conjugation of light and electrons.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9909293,
  title  = {Why does a metal-superconductor junction have a resistance?},
  author = {C. W. J. Beenakker},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9909293},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

12 pages, 5 postscript figures [v2: all figures inline]

R2 v1 2026-07-22T12:15:01.770Z