ELECTRON REFRIGERATION IN THE TUNNELING APPROACH

The performance of electron refrigeration by means of tunnel junctions between superconducting and normal-metal electrodes is studied theore tically. A suitable approximation of the basic expression for the heat current across the tunnel junctions allows the investigation of the m ain features of the device such as its optimal bias voltage, its maxim al heat current, its optimal working point, and the maximal temperatur e reduction: The theoretical results are compared with those of a rece nt experiment. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.