Metallic nanograins: superconducting correlations, Josephson tunneling and conformal field theory (2003-2005)

Experimental studies of aluminium grains which are a few nanometres in size have exposed unexpected physical characteristics, including pairing interactions which are responsible for bulk superconductivity. Our previous theoretical work has shown that precise information about these nanograins can be gained in the framework of the exact solution of the BCS model. This project will continue our work in this area with an emphasis on investigating the nature of Josephson tunneling between coupled nanograins. The results of this project will have important applications in emerging technologies such as the implementation of Josephson junctions of nanoscale size.''