A new method of producing point-contacts

A new method of making point contacts of small size by twisting (twining) metal wire electrodes is proposed and investigated. Clean, stable contacts with reproducible electrical characteristics are obtained at low temperatures. High-intensity point-contact spectra of the electron-phonon (e-ph) interaction in copper and also the spectra of the e-ph interaction in copper/gold hetero-contacts are observed. For molybdenum, point-contact spectra with more detail than in the previously known spectra are obtained, revealing their fine structure, and the integral parameters of the e-ph interaction are determined. The characteristics of superconducting point contacts of solid mercury are investigated. Titanium contacts are used at room temperature as gas sensors for analysis of human exhalate