Controllable Disorder in a Hybrid Nanoelectronic System: Realization of a Superconducting Diode

Abstract

We have studied a hybrid nanoelectronic system which consists of an AlGaAs/GaAs two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in close proximity (similar to 70 nm) to an Al superconducting nanofilm. By tuning the current through the Al film, we can change the conductance of the 2DEG and furthermore vary the effective disorder in the Al superconducting film in a controllable way. When a high current is injected into the film, screening which couples the Al film and the 2DEG results in a collapse of anti-symmetric behavior in the current-voltage characteristics, V(I) similar to - V(-I), which holds true in a conventional superconductor. Our results may open a new avenue of experimentally realizing a superconducting diode.