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

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.

Coherent THz emission of Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8 intrinsic Josephson junction stacks in the hot spot regime

We report on THz emission measurements and low temperature scanning laser imaging of Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8 intrinsic Josephson junction stacks. Coherent emission is observed at large dc input power, where a hot spot and a standing wave, formed in the cold part of the stack, coexist. By varying the hot spot size the cavity resonance frequency and the emitted radiation can be tuned. The linewidth of radiation is much smaller than expected from the quality factor of the cavity mode excited. Thus, an additional mechanism of synchronization seems to play a role, possibly arising from nonequilibrium processes at the hot spot edge.