No Arabic abstract
Self-consistent solutions of microscopic Eilenberger theory are presented for a two-dimensional model of a superconducting channel with a geometric constriction. Magnetic fields, external ones as well as those caused by the supercurrents, are included and the relevant equations are solved numerically without further assumptions. Results concerning the influence of temperature, geometric parameters, of $kappa=lambda_L/xi_0$ and of external magnetic fields on the Andreev bound states in the weak link and on the current-phase relation are presented. We find that the Andreev bound states within the junction obtain peculiar substructure when a finite supercurrent flows. As long as the London penetration depth is comparable to or bigger than the extension of the constriction, the Josephson effect is independent of $kappa$. Furthermore, the weak link is very insensitive to external magnetic fields. Features restricted to a self-consistent calculation are discussed.
Since the discovery of superconductivity in MgB2 considerable progress has been made in determining the physical properties of the material, which are promising for bulk conductors. Tunneling studies show that the material is reasonably isotropic and has a well-developed s-wave energy gap (∆), implying that electronic devices based on MgB2 could operate close to 30K. Although a number of groups have reported the formation of thin films by post-reaction of precursors, heterostructure growth is likely to require considerable technological development, making single-layer device structures of most immediate interest. MgB2 is unlike the cuprate superconductors in that grain boundaries do not form good Josephson junctions, and although a SQUID based on MgB2 nanobridges has been fabricated, the nanobridges themselves do not show junction-like properties. Here we report the successful creation of planar MgB2 junctions by localised ion damage in thin films. The critical current (IC) of these devices is strongly modulated by applied microwave radiation and magnetic field. The product of the critical current and normal state resistance (ICRN) is remarkably high, implying a potential for very high frequency applications.
We study a tunnel junction consisting of two thin-film s-wave superconductors separated by a thin, insulating barrier in the presence of misaligned in-plane exchange fields. We find an interesting interplay between the superconducting phase difference and the relative orientation of the exchange fields, manifested in the Josephson current across the junction. Specifically, this may be written $I_text{J}^text{C} = (I_0+I_m ~ cosphi) sinDeltatheta$, where I_0 and I_m are constants, and $phi$ is the relative orientation of the exchange fields while $Deltatheta$ is the superconducting phase difference. Similar results have recently been obtained in other S/I/S junctions coexisting with helimagnetic or ferromagnetic order. We calculate the superconducting order parameter self-consistently, and investigate quantitatively the effect which the misaligned exchange fields constitute on the Josephson current, to see if I_m may have an appreciable effect on the Josephson current. It is found that I_0 and I_m become comparable in magnitude at sufficiently low temperatures and fields close to the critical value, in agreement with previous work. From our analytical results, it then follows that the Josephson current in the present system may be controlled in a well-defined manner by a rotation of the exchange fields on both sides of the junction. We discuss a possible experimental realization of this proposition.
We propose a novel type of magnetic scanning probe sensor, based on a single planar Josephson junction with a magnetic barrier. The planar geometry together with high magnetic permeability of the barrier helps to focus flux in the junction and thus enhance the sensitivity of the sensor. As a result, it may outperform equally sized SQUID both in terms of the magnetic field sensitivity and the spatial resolution in one scanning direction. We fabricate and analyze experimentally sensor prototypes with a superparamagnetic CuNi and a ferromagnetic Ni barrier. We demonstrate that the planar geometry allows easy miniaturization to nm-scale, facilitates an effective utilization of the self-field phenomenon for amplification of sensitivity and a simple implementation of a control line for feed-back operation in a broad dynamic range.
Three-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) in proximity with superconductors are expected to exhibit exotic phenomena such as topological superconductivity (TSC) and Majorana bound states (MBS), which may have applications in topological quantum computation. In superconductor-TI-superconductor Josephson junctions, the supercurrent versus the phase difference between the superconductors, referred to as the current-phase relation (CPR), reveals important information including the nature of the superconducting transport. Here, we study the induced superconductivity in gate-tunable Josephson junctions (JJs) made from topological insulator BiSbTeSe2 with superconducting Nb electrodes. We observe highly skewed (non-sinusoidal) CPR in these junctions. The critical current, or the magnitude of the CPR, increases with decreasing temperature down to the lowest accessible temperature (T ~ 20 mK), revealing the existence of low-energy modes in our junctions. The gate dependence shows that close to the Dirac point the CPR becomes less skewed, indicating the transport is more diffusive, most likely due to the presence of electron/hole puddles and charge inhomogeneity. Our experiments provide strong evidence that superconductivity is induced in the highly ballistic topological surface states (TSS) in our gate-tunable TI- based JJs. Furthermore, the measured CPR is in good agreement with the prediction of a model which calculates the phase dependent eigenstate energies in our system, considering the finite width of the electrodes as well as the TSS wave functions extending over the entire circumference of the TI.
We report the first experimental observation of the two-node thickness dependence of the critical current in Josephson junctions with a ferromagnetic interlayer. Vanishings of the critical current correspond to transitions into pi-state and back into conventional 0-state. The experimental data allow to extract the superconducting order parameter oscillation period and the pair decay length in the ferromagnet. We develope a theoretical approach based on Usadel equations, which takes into account the spin-flip scattering. Results of numerical calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data.