SQUID array measurements of mesoscopic current noise and superconducting single-electron transistors

Mesoscopic physics studies systems making the transition from coherent quantum behavior to irreversible statistical behavior. In this work dc Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) amplifier arrays are used to study two such mesoscopic systems. In the first experiment we study the emergence of shot noise in metallic resistors as their length L is successively made larger than four characteristic scattering lengths which describe the progressive loss of reversibility in electronic systems. By measuring the current noise of Ag metal films using a SQUID we have verified the existence of two regimes where a resistor's shot noise displays the value (2/3)eI or (...