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arXiv · hep-th/9511168

Gauge Theories of Josephson Junction Arrays

M. C. Diamantini·P. Sodano·C. A. Trugenberger
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Abstract

We show that the zero-temperature physics of planar Josephson junction arrays in the self-dual approximation is governed by an Abelian gauge theory with periodic mixed Chern-Simons term describing the charge-vortex coupling. The periodicity requires the existence of (Euclidean) topological excitations which determine the quantum phase structure of the model. The electric-magnetic duality leads to a quantum phase transition between a superconductor and a superinsulator at the self-dual point. We also discuss in this framework the recently proposed quantum Hall phases for charges and vortices in presence of external offset charges and magnetic fluxes: we show how the periodicity of the charge-vortex coupling can lead to transitions to anyon superconductivity phases. We finally generalize our results to three dimensions, where the relevant gauge theory is the so-called BF system, with an antisymmetric Kalb-Ramond gauge field.

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M. C. Diamantini, P. Sodano, C. A. Trugenberger. 1995-11-23. Gauge Theories of Josephson Junction Arrays. https://doi.org/10.1016/0550-3213(96)00309-4

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