arXiv subjects

Shi-Zeng Lin

Publications and source records attributed to Shi-Zeng Lin.

124 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

In-plane dissipation as a possible synchronization mechanism for terahertz radiation from intrinsic Josephson junctions of layered superconductors

Strong terahertz radiation from mesa structure of $\rm{Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+δ}}$ single crystal has been observed recently, where the mesa intrinsically forms a cavity. For a thick mesa of large number of junctions, there are many cavity modes with different wave vectors along the c-axis corresponding to almost degenerate bias voltages. The mechanism responsible for exciting the uniform mode which radiates coherent terahertz waves in experiments is unknown. In this work, we show that the in-plane dissipation selects the uniform mode. For perturbations with non-zero wave numbers along the c-axis, the in-plane dissipations are significantly enhanced, which prevent the excitation of corresponding cavity modes. Our analytical results are confirmed by numerical simulations.

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arXiv2012

Synchronization of Josephson oscillations in mesa array of BSCCO single crystal through the Josephson plasma waves in base crystal

Using mesa array of $\rm{Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8}}$ single crystal was demonstrated recently as a promising route to enhance the radiation power generated by Josephson oscillations in mesas. We study the synchronization in such an array via the plasma waves in the base crystal. First, we analyze plasma oscillations inside the base crystal generated by the synchronized mesa array and the associated dissipation. We then solve the dynamic equation for superconducting phase numerically to find conditions for synchronization and to check the stability of synchronized state. We find that mesas are synchronized when the cavity resonance of mesas matches with that of the base crystal. An optimal configuration of mesa arrays is also obtained.

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arXiv2012

Theory for measurements of penetration depth in magnetic superconductors by magnetic force microscopy and scanning SQUID microscopy

We investigate the magnetic field distribution near the surface of a magnetic superconductor when a magnetic source is placed close to the superconductor. The magnetic field distribution can be measured by magnetic force microscopy and scanning SQUID microscopy, from which one can extract both the penetration depth $λ_L$ and magnetic susceptibility $χ$. When the magnetic moments are parallel to the surface, one extracts $λ_L/\sqrt{1-4πχ}$. When the moments are perpendicular to the surface, one obtains $λ_L$. By changing the orientation of the crystal, one thus is able to extract both $χ$ and $λ_L$.

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arXiv2012

Josephson effect between a two-band superconductor with the s++ or s+- pairing symmetry and a conventional s-wave superconductor

In this work, we investigate the Josephson effect between a two-band superconductor either with the $s++$ (two energy gaps have the same sign and are fully gapped) pairing symmetry or $s\pm$ (two energy gaps have $π$ phase difference and are fully gapped) pairing symmetry and a conventional s-wave superconductors. The ground state, critical current, plasma modes, flux flow dynamics, and response to external ac electric field, possible soliton solutions are investigated. For junctions with the charge neutrality breaking, we find a new plasma mode for junctions, which gives rise to new resonance peaks in the Josephson flux flow region. Because of the frustrated interaction in junctions with $s\pm$ pairing symmetry, time-reversal-symmetry (TRS) can be broken if the frustration is optimized. In the TRS broken (TRSB) state, there is a non-trivial phase difference between the two Josephson tunnelling channels, which results in a non-trivial interference. Furthermore, we find a novel massless plasma mode at the TRSB transition for junctions with the charge neutrality breaking. In the TRSB state, a spontaneous magnetic flux appears where there is a spatial inhomogeneity in the Josephson coupling, thus provides a possible smoking-gun evidence for the underlying pairing symmetry.

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arXiv2012

Prediction of polaron-like vortices and dissociation depinning transition in magnetic superconductors: The example of ErNi2B2C

In borocarbide ErNi$_2$B$_2$C the phase transition to the commensurate spin density wave at 2.3 K leaves 1/20 part of Ising-like Er spins practically free. Vortices polarize these spins nonuniformly and repolarize them when moving. At a low spin relaxation rate and at low bias currents vortices carrying magnetic polarization clouds become polaron-like and their velocities are determined by the effective drag coefficient which is significantly bigger than the Bardeen-Stephen (BS) one. As current increases, at a critical current $J_c$ vortices release polarization clouds and the velocity as well as the voltage in the I-V characteristics jump to values corresponding to the BS drag coefficient. The nonuniform components of the magnetic field and magnetization drop as velocity increases resulting in weaker polarization and discontinuous dynamic dissociation depinning transition. As current decreases, on the way back, vortices are retrapped by polarization clouds at the current $J_r<J_c$.

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arXiv2012

Measurement of the magnetic penetration depth of a superconducting MgB$_{2}$ thin film with a large intraband diffusivity

We report the temperature dependent magnetic penetration depth $λ(T)$ and the superconducting critical field $H_{c2}(T)$ in a 500-nm MgB$_{2}$ film. Our analysis of the experimental results takes into account the two gap nature of the superconducting state and indicates larger intraband diffusivity in the three-dimensional (3D) $π$ band compared to that in the two-dimensional (2D) $σ$ band. Direct comparison of our results with those reported previously for single crystals indicates that larger intraband scattering in the 3D $π$ band leads to an increase of $λ$. We calculated $λ$ and the thermodynamic critical field $H_{c}\approx$2000 Oe employing the gap equations for two-band superconductors. Good agreement between the measured and calculated $λ$ value indicates the two independent measurements, such as magnetic force microscopy and transport, provide a venue for investigating superconducting properties in multi-band superconductors.

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arXiv2012

Phase solitons in multi-band superconductors with and without time-reversal symmetry

The Josephson-like interband couplings in multi-band superconductivity exhibit degenerate energy minima, which support states with kinks in phase of superconductivity. When the interband couplings in systems of three or more components are frustrated, the time-reversal symmetry (TRS) can be broken, which generates another type of phase kink between the two time-reversal-symmetry breaking (TRSB) pair states. In this work, we focus on these novel states of phase kinks, and investigate their stability, similarity, differences and physical consequences. Main results are summarized as follows: (1) We find a new type of phase slip when the kink becomes unstable. (2) In the kink region, TRS is broken and spontaneous magnetic fields are induced. (3) In superconductors with TRSB, composite topological excitations associated with variations of both superconductivity phase and amplitude can be created by local perturbations, or due to proximity effect between normal metals.

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arXiv2012

Optimal Condition for Strong Terahertz Radiation from Intrinsic Josephson Junctions

In order to enhance the radiation power in terahertz band based on the intrinsic Josephson junctions of Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ single crystal, we investigate a long cylindrical sample embedded in a dielectric material. Tuning the dielectric constant, the radiation power has a maximum which is achieved when it equals the dissipation caused by Josephson plasma. This yields the optimal dielectric constant of wrapping material in terms of the properties of BSCCO single crystal. The maximal radiation power is found proportional to the product of the typical superconducting current squared and the typical normal resistance, or the gap energy squared divided by the typical normal resistance, which offers a guideline for choosing superconductor as a source of strong radiation. By introducing an anti-reflection layer, we can build a compact device with the BSCCO cylinder and two wrapping dielectric layers with finite thicknesses.

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arXiv2012

Measuring spectrum of spin wave using vortex dynamics

We propose to measure the spectrum of magnetic excitation in magnetic materials using motion of vortex lattice driven by both ac and dc current in superconductors. When the motion of vortex lattice is resonant with oscillation of magnetic moments, the voltage decreases at a given current. From transport measurement, one can obtain frequency of the magnetic excitation with the wave number determined by vortex lattice constant. By changing the lattice constant through applied magnetic fields, one can obtains the spectrum of the magnetic excitation up to a wave vector of order $10\rm{\ nm^{-1}}$.

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arXiv2012

Thermally Assisted Penetration and Exclusion of Single Vortex in Mesoscopic Superconductors

A single vortex overcoming the surface barrier in a mesoscopic superconductor with lateral dimensions of several coherence lengths and thickness of several nanometers provides an ideal platform to study thermal activation of a single vortex. In the presence of thermal fluctuations, there is non-zero probability for vortex penetration into or exclusion from the superconductor even when the surface barrier does not vanish. We consider the thermal activation of a single vortex in a mesoscopic superconducting disk of circular shape. To obtain statistics for the penetration and exclusion magnetic fields, slow and periodic magnetic fields are applied to the superconductor. We calculate the distribution of the penetration and exclusion fields from the thermal activation rate. This distribution can also be measured experimentally, which allows for a quantitative comparison.

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arXiv2012

Massless Leggett Mode in Three-band Superconductors with Time-Reversal-Symmetry Breaking

The Leggett mode associated with out-of-phase oscillations of superconducting phase in multi-band superconductors usually is heavy due to the interband coupling, which makes its excitation and detection difficult. We report on the existence of a massless Leggett mode in three-band superconductors with time-reversal-symmetry-breaking (TRSB). The mass of the Leggett mode is small close to the TRSB transition and vanishes at the transition point, and thus locates within the smallest superconducting energy gap, which makes it stable and detectable. The mass of the Leggett mode can be measured by Raman spectroscopy. The thermodynamic consequences of this massless mode and possible realization in iron-based superconductors are also discussed.

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arXiv2011

Synchronization of One Dimensional Array of Point Josephson Junctions Coupled to a Common Load

We study the synchronization in a one dimensional array of point Josephson junctions coupled to a common capacitor, which establishes a long-range interaction between junctions and synchronizes them. The stability diagram of synchronization in a noise-free system is obtained. The current when junctions transform from resistive state into superconducting state, is then calculated and its dependence on the shunt parameters and the dissipation of junctions is revealed. In the presence of thermal noise, the synchronized oscillations are destroyed at a critical temperature and the system undergoes a continuous phase transition of desynchronization. A possible stability diagram of the synchronized oscillations with respect to thermal noise, current, dissipations and shunt capacitance is then constructed. Finally we investigate the dynamic relaxation from random oscillations into synchronized state. The relaxation time increases with the system size and temperature, but is reduced by the shunt capacitor.

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arXiv2011

Vortex States and Phase Diagram of Multi-component Superconductors with Competing Repulsive and Attractive Vortex Interactions

We investigate the behavior of vortices of multi-component superconductivity, realized in $\rm{MgB_2}$ and Fe-based superconductors, within the framework of Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory in terms of numerical calculations of the time-dependent GL equations and the variational method. It is revealed that close to the critical point of the composite system the inter-component coupling makes the system behave as a single component superconductivity in most cases. However, when the bare mean-field critical points of the two components coincide with each other, and furthermore the inter-band coupling disappears at the same temperature, interesting phenomena occur as follows. Vortices interact attractively at large separation and repulsively at short distance in certain parameter space. Because of the non-monotonic interaction profile, phase separations between vortex clusters of triangular order and the Meissner state take place, which indicates a first-order phase transition associated with the penetration of the magnetic field into a superconductor sample. Phase diagrams of vortex states are then constructed with the associated magnetization curve. It is found that all these behavior interpolates the features of the type I and II superconductors.

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arXiv2010

Response and Amplification of Terahertz Electromagnetic Waves in Intrinsic Josephson Junctions of Layered High-Tc Superconductor

We investigate the response of a stack of intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) to terahertz (THz) electromagnetic (EM) irradiation. A significant amplification of the EM wave can be achieved by the IJJs stack when the incident frequency equals to one of the cavity frequencies. The irradiation excites pi phase kinks in the junctions, which stimulate the cavity resonance when the bias voltage is tuned. A large amount of dc energy is then pumped into the Josephson plasma oscillation, and the incident wave gets amplified. From the profound current step in IV characteristics induced at the cavity resonance, the system can also be used for detection of the THz wave.

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arXiv2010

Radiation of Terahertz Electromagnetic Waves from Build-in Nano Josephson Junctions of Cuprate High-Tc Superconductors

The nano-scale intrinsic Josephson junctions in highly anisotropic cuprate superconductors have potential for generation of terahertz electromagnetic waves. When the thickness of a superconductor sample is much smaller than the wavelength of electromagnetic waves in vacuum, the superconductor renders itself as a cavity. Unlike conventional lasers, the presence of the cavity does not guarantee a coherent emission because of the internal degree of freedom of the superconductivity phase in long junctions. We study the excitation of terahertz wave by solitons in a stack of intrinsic Josephson junctions, especially for relatively short junctions. Coherent emission requires a rectangular configuration of solitons. However such a configuration is unstable against weak fluctuations, contrarily solitons favor a triangular lattice corresponding to an out phase oscillation of electromagnetic waves. To utilize the cavity, we propose to use an array of stacks of short intrinsic Josephson junctions to generate powerful terahertz electromagnetic waves. The cavity synchronizes the plasma oscillation in different stacks and the emission intensity is predicted to be proportional to the number of stacks squared.

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arXiv2010

Phase dynamics of inductively coupled intrinsic Josephson junctions and terahertz electromagnetic radiation

The Josephson effects associated with quantum tunneling of Cooper pairs manifest as nonlinear relations between the superconductivity phase difference and the bias current and voltage. Many novel phenomena appear, such as Shapiro steps in dc cuurent-voltage (IV) characteristics of a Josephson junction under microwave shining, which can be used as a voltage standard. Inversely, the Josephson effects provide a unique way to generate high-frequency electromagnetic (EM) radiation by dc bias voltage. The discovery of cuprate high-Tc superconductors accelerated the effort to develop novel source of EM waves based on a stack of atomically dense-packed intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs), since the large superconductivity gap covers the whole terahertz frequency band. Very recently, strong and coherent terahertz radiations have been successfully generated from a mesa structure of $\rm{Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+δ}}$ single crystal which works both as the source of energy gain and as the cavity for resonance. It is then found theoretically that, due to huge inductive coupling of IJJs produced by the nanometer junction separation and the large London penetration depth of order of $\rm{μm}$ of the material, a novel dynamic state is stabilized in the coupled sine-Gordon system, in which $\pm π$ kinks in phase differences are developed responding to the standing wave of Josephson plasma and are stacked alternatively in the c-axis. This novel solution of the inductively coupled sine-Gordon equations captures the important features of experimental observations. The theory predicts an optimal radiation power larger than the one available to date by orders of magnitude, and thus suggests the technological relevance of the phenomena.

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