Current induced hidden states in Josephson junctions

Shaowen Chen (), Seunghyun Park, Uri Vool, Nikola Maksimovic, David A. Broadway, Mykhailo Flaks, Tony X. Zhou, Patrick Maletinsky, Ady Stern, Bertrand I. Halperin and Amir Yacoby ()
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Shaowen Chen: Harvard University
Seunghyun Park: Harvard University
Uri Vool: Harvard University
Nikola Maksimovic: Harvard University
David A. Broadway: University of Basel
Mykhailo Flaks: University of Basel
Tony X. Zhou: Harvard University
Patrick Maletinsky: University of Basel
Ady Stern: Weizmann Institute of Science
Bertrand I. Halperin: Harvard University
Amir Yacoby: Harvard University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Josephson junctions enable dissipation-less electrical current through metals and insulators below a critical current. Despite being central to quantum technology based on superconducting quantum bits and fundamental research into self-conjugate quasiparticles, the spatial distribution of super current flow at the junction and its predicted evolution with current bias and external magnetic field remain experimentally elusive. Revealing the hidden current flow, featureless in electrical resistance, helps understanding unconventional phenomena such as the nonreciprocal critical current, i.e., Josephson diode effect. Here we introduce a platform to visualize super current flow at the nanoscale. Utilizing a scanning magnetometer based on nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond, we uncover competing ground states electrically switchable within the zero-resistance regime. The competition results from the superconducting phase re-configuration induced by the Josephson current and kinetic inductance of thin-film superconductors. We further identify a new mechanism for the Josephson diode effect involving the Josephson current-induced phase. The nanoscale super current flow emerges as a new experimental observable for elucidating unconventional superconductivity, and optimizing quantum computation and energy-efficient devices.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52271-z

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