Unusual linewidth dependence of coherent THz emission measured from intrinsic Josephson junction stacks in the hot-spot regime


Abstract in English

We report on measurements of the linewidth {Delta}f of THz radiation emitted from intrinsic Josephson junction stacks, using a Nb/AlN/NbN integrated receiver for detection. Previous resolution limited measurements indicated that {Delta}f may be below 1 GHz - much smaller than expected from a purely cavity-induced synchronization. While at low bias we found {Delta}f to be not smaller than ? 500 MHz, at high bias, where a hotspot coexists with regions which are still superconducting, {Delta}f turned out to be as narrow as 23 MHz. We attribute this to the hotspot acting as a synchronizing element. {Delta}f decreases with increasing bath temperature, a behavior reminiscent of motional narrowing in NMR or ESR, but hard to explain in standard electrodynamic models of Josephson junctions.

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