Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
Current-voltage characteristics and dV/dI curves of a YBCO/Nb bulk junction at 4.2 K are reported. The presence of the Josephosn effect is clearly shown. The dV/dI spectrum shows sharp structures which can be related to the Niobium and the YBCO energy gaps Δnb and ΔNb and ΔYBCO. A value ΔYBCO = 26.2 ± 1.0 meV can be estimated, confirming the strong coupling character of such a compound.