Fractional-flux little-parks resistance oscillations in disordered superconducting Au_0.7In_0.3 cylinders

The resistance of disordered superconducting Au_0.7In_0.3 cylindrical films was measured as a function of applied magnetic field. In the high-temperature part of the superconducting transition regime, the resistance oscillated with a period of h/2e in units of the enclosed magnetic flux. However, at lower temperatures, the resistance peaks split. We argue that this splitting is due to the emergence of an oscillation with a period of h/4e, half of the flux quantum for paired electrons. The possible physical origin of the h/4e resistance oscillation is discussed in the context of new minima in the free energy of a disordered superconducting cylinder.