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arXiv · 2212.06866

Diode effects in current-biased Josephson junctions

Jacob F. Steiner·Larissa Melischek·Martina Trahms·Katharina J. Franke·Felix von Oppen
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Abstract

Current-biased Josephson junctions exhibit hysteretic transitions between dissipative and superconducting states as characterized by switching and retrapping currents. Here, we develop a theory for diode-like effects in the switching and retrapping currents of weakly-damped Josephson junctions. We find that while the diode-like behavior of switching currents is rooted in asymmetric current-phase relations, nonreciprocal retrapping currents originate in asymmetric quasiparticle currents. These different origins also imply distinctly different symmetry requirements. We illustrate our results by a microscopic model for junctions involving a single magnetic atom. Our theory provides significant guidance in identifying the microscopic origin of nonreciprocities in Josephson junctions.

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Jacob F. Steiner, Larissa Melischek, Martina Trahms, Katharina J. Franke, Felix von Oppen. 2022-12-13. Diode effects in current-biased Josephson junctions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.130.177002

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