The gravity-induced phase shift detected by high-T c Josephson junctions

We derive from the Kaluza-Klein theory a formula for the gravity-induced phase shift around a circuit loop, which amounts to the order of 10^?6 We propose experiments to detect this phase shift by using the high-T _c d-wave Josephson junction, which is included in a cuprate superconductor circuit loop. By rotating the loop around the horizontal axis, the gravity-induced phase shift can be detected as a frequency shift. These settings can also be used in turn to determine the gravitational constant. This method will be sensitive and accurate.     

Josephson current in superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor junctions

By using the Bogoliubov–de Gennes equation and the Nambu spinor Greens function approach, we have theoretically studied the dc Josephson current and the coupling phase state of superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor (SC/FM/SC) junctions, where the FM is of weak ferromagnetism. From the behavior of the temperature-dependent dc Josephson current (I_c), we confirm that such SC/FM/SC junction may change from 0-phase to π-phase state with increasing the temperature (T), for particular parameters of the thickness and the strength of ferromagnetism of the FM interlayer. We attribute such changement to an extra phase difference between the two SCs. The results are qualitatively consistent with an experiment [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 (2001) 2427], which shows a sharp cusp structure on the I_c−T curves of Nb/Cu_0.48Ni_0.52/Nb junction for specific thickness of the Cu_0.48Ni_0.52, indicating the junction changes from 0-phase state at high temperatures to π-phase state at low temperatures.     

Josephson current in superconductor/ferromagnet/ superconductor junctions

The Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation and Nambu spinor Green's function approach are applied to studying the Josephson current in superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor (S/F/S) Josephson junctions in the clean limit. It is found that the critical current exhibits a damped oscillation with the F thickness d, the oscillation period equal to 2πξ_F with ξ_F the coherence length of the F. The change of the critical current from positive to negative is determined by factor cosφ^′ with φ^′=d/ξ_F as the F-induced phase difference. The exponent decay of the critical current is close related to that of the superconductor order parameter in the F, both of them having the same decay length.     

Zero field steps in Josephson junctions

A study is made of the d.c. current steps of resonant Josephson tunnel junctions in zero applied magnetic field. The results are in good agreement with the experimental observations. The existence of even-order modes, the cut-off voltage and the temperature-dependent current steps are clearly demonstrated.     

High-temperature superconductor Josephson junctions for voltage standards

This paper presents the results of investigations of the high-frequency properties of multi-junction Josephson circuits based on high-temperature superconductors and the specific features of their use in voltage standards.     

Tunable supercurrent in superconductor/normal metal/superconductor Josephson junctions

When two superconductors are connected by a weak link a supercurrent flows determined by the difference in the macroscopic quantum phases of the superconductors. Originally, this phenomenon was discovered by Josephson for the case of a weak link formed by a thin tunnel barrier. The supercurrent I is related to the phase difference ϕ through the Josephson current–phase relation, I = I_csin ϕ, with I_c, the critical current, depending on the properties of the weak link. A similar relation holds for weak links consisting of a normal metal, a semiconductor or a constriction . In all cases, the phase differenceϕ =  0 when no supercurrent flows through the junction, and ϕ increases monotonically with increasing supercurrent until the critical current is reached. Using nanolithography techniques we have succeeded in making and studying a Josephson junction with a normal metal weak link, in which we have direct access to the microscopic current-carrying states inside the link. We find that the fundamental Josephson relation can be changed fromI = I_csin ϕ toI = I_csin(ϕ + π), i.e. to a π -junction, by suitably controlling the energy distribution of the current-carrying states in the normal metal. This fundamental change in the way these Josephson junctions behave has potential implications for their use in superconducting electronics as well as (quantum) logic circuits based on superconductors.     

超导体/铁磁体绝缘层-超导体隧道结的直流Josephson效应

在超导体铁磁体绝缘层超导体结(SFIS)中,运用BogoliubovdeGennes(BdG)方程和FurusakiTsukada(FT)电流公式,计算铁磁超导共存态的自洽方程和SFIS结中的直流Josephson电流.研究表明,铁磁超导态的磁交换能h对准粒子的Andreev反射有抑制作用,使得SFIS结中的直流Josephson电流随铁磁超导共存态的磁交换能h增大而减弱 关键词： S/F-I-S结 铁磁超导态 直流Josephson电流     

Zeeman effects on Josephson current in d-wave superconductor/d-wave superconductor junctions

This paper solves a self-consistent equation for the d-wave superconducting gap and the effective exchange field in the mean-field approximation, and studies the Zeeman effects on the d-wave superconducting gap and thermodynamic potential. The Josephson currents in the d-wave superconductor(S)/insulating layer(I)/d-wave S junctions are calculated as a function of the temperature, exchange field, and insulating barrier strength under a Zeeman magnetic field on the two d-wave Ss. It is found that the Josephson critical currents in d-wave S/d-wave S junction to a great extent depend on the relative orientation of the effective exchange field of the two S electrodes, and the crystal orientation of the d-wave S. The exchange field under certain conditions can enhance the Josephson critical current in a d-wave S/I/d-wave S junction.     

Parametric Amplification of High-Frequency Radiation by Point Josephson Junctions Near Shapiro Subharmonic Steps

Physics of the Solid State - Parametric amplification of a high-frequency radiation by point-like Josephson junctions in the cavity has been studied within a resistive model. It is shown...     

Spontaneous Josephson spin current in triplet superconductor/ferromagnet/triplet superconductor junctions

This paper theoretically studies Josephson spin current through triplet superconductor/ferromagnet/triplet superconductor junctions. At the ferromagnet/superconductor interfaces, the ferromagnetic scattering potential gives rise to coupling between the Andreev bound states and lifts their spin degeneracy. These spin-split Andreev states carry the Josephson spin current through the junctions. The generated spin supercurrent can be controlled by the magnetization of a ferromagnetic thin layer and bias voltage across the junctions.     

磁性d波超导/铁磁/磁性d波超导结中的约瑟夫森效应

通过求解磁性d波超导中的能隙和磁交换能的自洽方程, 研究磁性d波超导/铁磁/磁性d波超导结中的约瑟夫森电流. 计算结果表明: 1)临界电流随中间的铁磁层厚度呈现出两种不同周期的振荡混合, 通过增强铁磁层中的磁交换能q₀和铁磁/磁性d波超导界面处的势垒强度z₀, 短周期分量可从长周期中分离出来, 反之, 通过降低q₀和z₀, 长周期分量可从短周期中分离出来; 2)在两边磁性d波超导的磁化方向取平行时, 在取一些特定的铁磁层厚度下, 磁性d波超导中的磁交换能可增强系统的临界电流. 关键词： 磁性d波超导体 铁磁体 约瑟夫森电流     

Excimer-laser-induced ablation of the high-T c superconductor Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O

The ablation of ceramic Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O by XeCl-excimer-laser projection has been investigated. In both air and vacuum, etching commences at about 2.4 J/cm² and then increases with fluence within the regime investigated ( <) 20 J/cm²). At 10 J/cm² the respective etch rates are around 1 m/pulse and 1.6 m/pulse.     

Electronic structure of new LiFeAs high-T c superconductor

We present results of ab initio LDA calculations of electronic structure of “next generation” layered iron-pnictide high-T _c superconductor LiFeAs (T _c = 18 K). Obtained electronic structure of LiFeAs very similar to recently studied ReOFeAs (Re = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) and AFe₂As₂ (A = Ba, Sr) compounds. Namely close to the Fermi level its electronic properties are also determined mainly by Fe 3d-orbilats of FeAs₄ two-dimensional layers. Band dispersions of LiFeAs are very similar to the LaOFeAs and BaFe₂As₂ systems as well as the shape of the Fe-3d density of states and Fermi surface. The article is published in the original.     

Josephson effect in supercondutor/ferromagnetic semiconductor/superconductor junctions

Using a general expression for dc Josephson current, we study the Josephson effect in ballistic superconductor (SC)/ferromagnetic semiconductor (FS)/SC junctions, in which the mismatches of the effective mass and Fermi velocity between the FS and SC, spin polarization P in the FS, as well as strengths of potential scattering Z at the interfaces are included. It is shown that in the coherent regime, the oscillatory dependences of the maximum Josephson current on the FS layer thickness L and Josephson current on the macroscopic phase difference φ for the heavy and light holes, resulting from the spin splitting energy gained or lost by a quasiparticle Andreev-reflected at the FS/SC interface, are much different due to the different mismatches in the effective mass and Fermi velocity between the FS and the SC, which is related to the crossovers between positive (0) and negative (π) couplings or equivalently 0 and π junctions. Also, we find that, for the same reason, Z and P are required not to surpass different critical values for the Josephson currents of the heavy and light holes. Furthermore, it is found that, for the dependence of the Josephson current on φ, regardless of how L,Z, and P change, the Josephson junctions do not transit between 0 and π junctions for the light hole.     

Symmetrical high-T c superconducting bicrystal Josephson junctions: Dependence of the electrical properties on the misorientation angle

The electrical properties of junctions at symmetrical bicrystal boundaries in high-T _c superconducting films are studied as functions of the misorientation angle in the range 8°–45°. The junctions are prepared by growing YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO) epitaxial films on Y-ZrO₂ (YSZ) bicrystal substrates. The proportional relationship between the characteristic voltages and the normal conductivities of junctions is derived from the dependences of the critical current and the normal resistance on the misorientation angle. The results are interpreted within the model of a superconductor-dielectric with defect levels in the band gap of the superconductor. The deviations from the proportional relationship are explained by the junction inhomogeneity. The thickness of the effective dielectric layer in the bicrystal junction and the Bohr radius of electrons on the defects are estimated.