Magnetic-Free Quantum Interference and Universal Josephson Diode Effect Driven by a Supercurrent Gauge Field
The Josephson effect, a hallmark of superconducting phase coherence, drives modern quantum technologies. However, Josephson-based quantum interference has hitherto been tethered to magnetic fields, despite phase coherence being a quintessential, intrinsic trait of superconductivity. Moreover, the Josephson diode effect (JDE) is typically viewed as an anomalous phenomenon indicative of broken symmetries in exotic phases of matter. Here, in planar Josephson junctions made with $\mathrm{Bi}_2\mathrm{O}_2\mathrm{Se}$ and bilayer graphene, we demonstrate that the JDE is a missing universal property of the Josephson effect. Simultaneously, we present an all-electric technology that replaces magnetic flux for controlling and measuring supercurrent interference. Central to our approach is a supercurrent gauge field (SGF), generated and amplified through high-kinetic-inductance superconductors and novel device architectures. By establishing the physical equivalence between the SGF and a magnetic field, we eliminate the reliance on external fields in quantum interference and reveal a universal, field-free JDE mechanism with broad implications for detecting broken-symmetry states. Finally, we show that the SGF offers capabilities beyond those of a conventional magnetic field by experimentally demonstrating a magnetic-free, phase-sensitive technique to construct and characterize finite-momentum superconductivity, opening new frontiers for exploring novel phases of matter and superconducting quantum architectures.