Thermometry by Arrays of Tunnel Junctions

Abstract

We show that arrays of tunnel junctions between normal metal electrodes exhibit features suitable for primary thermometry in an experimentally adjustable temperature range where thermal and charging effects compete. $I\ensuremath{-}V$ and $\frac{\mathrm{dI}}{\mathrm{dV}}$ vs $V$ have been calculated for two junctions including a universal analytic high temperature result. Experimentally the width of the conductance minimum in this regime scales with $T$ and $N$, the number of junctions, and its value (per junction) agrees with the calculated one to within 3% for large $N$. The height of this feature is inversely proportional to $T$.