Electron Tunnelling in Pb/Ag Ultrathin Layered Structures

Abstract

The layered samples are produced by the sequential deposition of lead and silver with thicknesses within the range from 6 to 35 monolayers. The samples about 100 nm thick show X-ray diffraction spectra characteristic of a superlattice. Measurements of the electron tunnelling spectra of AlAl2O3Pb/Ag layered ultrathin films are performed. Quantum size effects in tunnelling junctions containing 1 to 4 ultrathin layers of lead separated by ultrathin layers of silver are observed. In these oscillations of the tunnelling spectra two sets of different periods are obtained. [Russian Text Ignored].