Current-Induced Crossover of Flux Periodicity from h/2 e to h/e in a Superconducting Nb Nano-Ring.

Magnetoresistance measurements in a granular Nb nanoring reveal current-induced crossover between two distinct quantum coherence effects. At low bias currents, Cooper-pair coherence is manifested by Little-Parks oscillations with flux periodicity of h/2 e. At high bias currents, magnetoresistance oscillations with flux periods of h/ e are observed and interpreted as Aharonov-Bohm oscillations, reflecting the phase coherence of individual quasi-particles. The model explaining these data views the ring as a chain of superconducting grains weakly coupled by tunnel junctions. Low bias currents allow coherent tunneling of Cooper pairs between the grains. Increasing the current above the critical current of all the junctions creates a quasi-particles conduction channel along the ring, allowing for quantum interference of quasi-particles.