Effect of Cherenkov dissipation on vortex velocity in a waveguide-coupled Josephson junction

A motion of slow and fast vortices in a waveguide-coupled Josephson junction induced by a transport current flowing through the entire structure is studied; the coupling is not assumed to be weak. For a fast vortex, conditions are established under which current oscillations due to energy dissipation via Cherenkov radiation of Swihart waves become comparable to the current compensating for ohmic losses in the Josephson junction, waveguide, and adjacent superconductors. For a slow vortex, it is proved that intermediate and strong couplings of the Josephson junction to the waveguide shift current oscillations to the velocity range below the Swihart velocity of the Josephson junction.     

Cherenkov trapping of waves and discreteness of 6 π-kink motion in a long Josephson junction

The phenomenon of Cherenkov trapping of generalized Swihart waves by a moving vortex is established using an analytically solvable model. The quantization of the structure of the field of the trapped waves is manifested as quantization of the values of the velocity of the vortices. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 4, 318–322 (25 February 1999)     

Vortex chains travelling with discrete velocities

It has been shown that Swihart waves slowing down caused by Josephson junction spatial dispersion leads to the new field periodic nonlinear vortex states moving with discrete velocities. Swihart waves trapping by periodic vortex structures is discovered.     

Quantization of the motion and Cherenkov structure of a Josephson vortex

A generalization of the Sakai-Tateno-Pedersen model is proposed. This model is used to establish the existence of a discrete eigenvalue spectrum of the free-motion velocities of a Josephson vortex, or π kink, produced by the Cherenkov structure of extraordinary vortex-trapped Swihart waves having the spectrum (3.9). The dependence of the current across the Josephson junction on the vortex velocity was obtained, and, at comparatively high velocities, this was characterized by equidistant dips attributable to the Cherenkov resonant interaction of the vortex with Swihart waves.     

Extended Schwinger-Boson theory of the two-dimensional spin-1/2 anisotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnets

The properties of the possible solitary electromagnetic waves, propagating in two-dimensional SIS Josephson junction without dissipative losses are investigated on the basis of the local theory of the junction. A classification of the waves in the junction with respect to the Swihart velocity is made. It is shown that allowed and forbidden areas for the wave numbers, wave frequency and wave amplitude exist. The cut-off frequency for the solitary waves which velocity is greater than the Swihart velocity can be smaller than the Josephson plasma frequency and moreover these waves can propagate only in a junction that is large in the direction perpendicular to the propagation direction. On the contrary the solitary waves which velocity is smaller than the Swihart velocity request junction size in the above direction to be smaller than a critical one. The investigated two-dimensional solitary waves can be connected with one or two quanta of the magnetic flux.     

On the velocity of a 4π kink moving under the action of current

The dependence of bias current density through a junction on the velocity of a uniformly moving vortex carrying two magnetic flux quanta is established in the approximation of weakly nonlocal Josephson electrodynamics. It is shown that the velocity quantization of free motion of the vortex, which is induced by the Cherenkov interaction with Swihart waves, leads to the emergence of a discrete family of curves on the velocity-current plane.     

On the current-voltage characteristic of a Josephson junction with a high critical current density

A theory is constructed for the current-voltage characteristic of a Josephson junction with a high critical current density described by nonlocal vortex electrodynamics in the approximation of small dissipation due to the single-particle conductivity of the Josephson junction. The role of the resonant excitation of generalized short-wavelength Swihart waves is determined. New quantitative properties of the current-voltage characteristic, which is an envelope of wave excitation resonances, are established. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 2148–2161 (June 1998)     

Vortices in a Josephson junction sandwiched between two superconducting waveguides

For a Josephson junction magnetically coupled to the superconducting waveguides enclosing it, solutions to the equation for the difference of the Cooper pair phases over the Josephson junction are found and the corresponding magnetic field values are calculated. Two gaps imposing an upper limit for the vortex velocity are found for free vortices (moving without dissipation). Existence conditions are found for fast vortices in the two high-velocity allowed regions. The dependence of the transport current on vortex velocity is established in cases where the current flows through the Josephson junction only or through the entire structure. A reverse current phenomenon is discovered in which vortices inside allowed velocity regions move opposite to the usual direction.     

On the decay of generalized Swihart waves

For Josephson junctions in sandwich geometry and in thin-film geometry we formulate the equations of nonlocal electrodynamics which take account of the influence of normal electrons in superconductors. On the basis of these equations we examine the spectrum and decay of generalized Swihart waves. We find that the decay of these waves by normal electrons becomes especially prominent in the short-wavelength region. Comparison of various dissipation mechanisms has revealed the conditions for efficient emission of electromagnetic waves from Josephson structures with finite dimensions. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1160–1167 (July 1999)     

RF impedance of intrinsic Josephson junction in flux-flow state with a periodic pinning potential and its optimum condition for RF radiation

We reported dynamics of Josephson vortices interacting with electromagnetic waves in strongly coupled long Josephson junctions stack, such as an intrinsic Josephson junction (IJJ), by numerical simulations based on coupled sine-Gordon equations considering a periodic pinning potential of sinusoidal form. The numerical simulation results for the influence of the electromagnetic waves on flux-flow properties show that the periodic pinning potential induces an in-phase motion of Josephson vortices over the junction stacks, which achieve high performances of IJJ flux-flow oscillator. In order to prove it from another viewpoint, we calculate RF impedance of long Josephson junction stacks in flux-flow state. A remarkable negative real part region of RF impedance appears at 1st harmonic step, it means that the long Josephson junction stacks in flux-flow state acts as an oscillator at the negative real part region. In this study, we evaluate the optimum condition for RF radiation with the periodic pinning potential.     

Cherenkov radiation from an Abrikosov-Josephson vortex

The Cherenkov radiation of generalized Swihart waves is investigated in connection with the slow motion of an Abrikosov-Josephson vortex, which corresponds to a 2 π kink in the phase difference of Cooper pairs on opposite sides of a tunnel junction. The radiative friction force acting on such a vortex is determined. An evaluation is made of the steady-state vortex velocity when the accelerating influence of an electric current through the Josephson junction is compensated by radiative slowing of the vortex due to Cherenkov radiation from the Abrikosov-Josephson vortex. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 444–448 (March 1997)     

Quantum fluctuations in a distributed Josephson junction and the spectral properties of Josephson oscillators

Within the framework of a tunneling Hamiltonian, we obtain an equation for the reduced density matrix to describe quasiclassical dynamics and fluctuation effects in distributed Josephson junctions for voltages comparable with the superconducting gap. For quasiclassical dynamics, we derive the Langevin equation describing in a self-consistent way the resistive state and fluctuations due to both the tunneling current and the electromagnetic field. Current-voltage characteristics of a Josephson oscillator are calculated in the high magnetic field approximation. The intensity and shape of the spectral line of radiation due to vortices moving in a distributed Josephson junction are found.     

Emission of radiation from a long Josephson junction in a thin film

Space-time nonlocal electrodynamic equations are derived for nonlinear vortex states of a Josephson junction in a film of thickness much smaller than the London penetration depth. The spectrum and damping of generalized Swihart waves propagating in such a junction are analyzed. The radiation damping constant associated with the possible emission of electromagnetic radiation is determined in the range of Swihart wave phase velocities exceeding the speed of light. The emission of radiation from nonlinear states having dimensions greater than the distance traversed by light in vacuum during the characteristic time of variation of the phase difference is investigated. It is shown that the flux density of radiation emitted by such states is localized in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the tunnel junction and depends weakly on the angle of observation in this plane. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 1426–1449 (April 1999)     

Interaction between optical phonons and Josephson vortices in layered superconductors

The effect of optical phonons on the stability of the in-phase motion regime of Josephson vortices in a layered superconductor has been studied by using an expression for the dielectric constant of a layered high-temperature superconductor. The dispersion characteristics of linear waves have been analyzed. It has been shown that the in-phase motion regime of the Josephson vortices can be spontaneously established in the layered superconductor.     

Some aspects of the nonlocal electrodynamics of infinite Josephson junctions

We derive the basic equations of nonlocal Josephson electrodynamics, valid for any ratios of the characteristic scale of phase-difference variations and junction thickness. The spectrum of generalized Swihart waves is obtained. We also study the effect of finite surface resistance of the superconducting electrodes on the dynamics of vortex structures characteristic of nonlocal electrodynamics. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 955–966 (March 1998)     

Step-like dependence of the magnetoresistance of a Josephson structure

The step-like dependence of the magnetoresistance observed when measuring a structure consisting of series-connected Josephson junctions and a film is investigated. Estimates show that the effect may be due to Abrikosov vortices entering stepwise into the film. They can influence the critical current of a Josephson junction under nonequilibrium and nonlocality conditions.     

Phase diagram of a lattice of pancake vortex molecules

On a superconducting bi-layer with thickness much smaller than the penetration depth, λ, a vortex molecule might form. A vortex molecule is composed of two fractional vortices and a soliton wall. The soliton wall can be regarded as a Josephson vortex missing magnetic flux (degenerate Josephson vortex) due to an incomplete shielding. The magnetic energy carried by fractional vortices is less than in the conventional vortex. This energy gain can pay a cost to form a degenerate Josephson vortex. The phase diagram of the vortex molecule is rich because of its rotational freedom.