Phase fluctuations in a strongly disordered s-wave superconductor close to the metal-insulator transition

We explore the role of phase fluctuations in a 3-dimensional s-wave superconductor, NbN, as we approach the critical disorder for the destruction of the superconducting state. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements reveal that in the presence of strong disorder, a finite gap in the electronic spectrum continues to persist at temperatures above Tc. With increase in disorder, the superfluid density is strongly suppressed at low temperatures and evolves towards a linear-T variation at higher temperatures. These observations provide strong evidence that phase fluctuation leads to the formation of a pseudogap state in a disordered conventional superconductor.

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