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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Pairing symmetry of twisted bilayer graphene: A phenomenological synthesis

One of the outstanding questions in the study of twisted bilayer graphene—from both experimental and theoretical points of view—is the nature of its superconducting phase. In this paper we perform a comprehensive synthesis of existing experiments, and argue that experimental constraints are strong enough to allow the structure of the superconducting order parameter to be nearly uniquely determined. In particular, we argue that the order parameter is nodal, and is formed from an admixture of spin-singlet and spin-triplet Cooper pairs. This argument is made on phenomenological grounds, without committing to any particular microscopic model of the superconductor. Existing data is insufficient to determine the orbital parity of the order parameter, which could be either p wave or d wave. We propose a way in which the measurement of Andreev edge states can be used to distinguish between the two.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Spin-triplet supercurrent in Josephson junctions containing a synthetic antiferromagnet with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

In this paper, we present measurements of Josephson junctions containing three magnetic layers with noncollinear magnetizations. The junctions are of the form S / F ' / N / F / N / F " / S , where S is superconducting Nb, F ' is either a thin Ni or Permalloy layer with in-plane magnetization, N is the normal metal Cu, F is a synthetic antiferromagnet with magnetization perpendicular to the plane, composed of Pd/Co multilayers on either side of a thin Ru spacer, and F " is a thin Ni layer with in-plane magnetization. The supercurrent in these junctions decays more slowly as a function of the F -layer thickness than for similar spin-singlet junctions not containing the F ' and F " layers. The slower decay is the prime signature that the supercurrent in the central part of these junctions is carried by spin-triplet pairs. Finally, the junctions containing F ' = Permalloy are suitable for future experiments where either the amplitude of the critical current or the ground-state phase difference across the junction is controlled by changing the relative orientations of the magnetizations of the F ' and F " layers.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Fluxon-based quantum simulation in circuit QED

Long-lived fluxon excitations can be trapped inside a superinductor ring, which is divided into an array of loops by a periodic sequence of Josephson junctions in the quantum regime, thereby allowing fluxons to tunnel between neighboring sites. By tuning the Josephson couplings and, implicitly, the fluxon tunneling probability amplitudes, a wide class of one-dimensional tight-binding lattice models may be implemented and populated with a stable number of fluxons. We illustrate the use of this quantum simulation platform by discussing the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model in the one-fluxon subspace, which hosts a symmetry-protected topological phase with fractionally charged bound states at the edges. Furthermore, this pair of localized edge states could be used to implement a superconducting qubit increasingly decoupled from decoherence mechanisms.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tuning of strong nonlinearity in radio-frequency superconducting-quantum-interference-device meta-atoms

Strong nonlinearity of a self-resonant radio-frequency (rf) superconducting-quantum-interference-device (SQUID) meta-atom is explored via intermodulation (IM) measurements. Previous work in zero dc magnetic flux showed a sharp onset of IM response as the frequency sweeps through the resonance. A second onset at higher frequency was also observed, creating a prominent gap in the IM response. By extending those measurements to nonzero dc flux, different dynamics are revealed, including dc flux tunability of the aforementioned gaps and enhanced IM response near geometric resonance of the rf SQUID. These features observed experimentally are understood and analyzed theoretically through a combination of a steady-state analytical modeling and a full numerical treatment of the rf SQUID dynamics. The latter in addition predicts the presence of chaos in narrow parameter regimes. Here, the understanding of intermodulation in rf SQUID metamaterials is important for producing low-noise amplification of microwave signals and tunable filters.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Anomalous Low-Temperature Enhancement of Supercurrent in Topological-Insulator Nanoribbon Josephson Junctions: Evidence for Low-Energy Andreev Bound States

We report anomalous enhancement of the critical current at low temperatures in gate-tunable Josephson junctions made from topological insulator BiSbTeSe 2 nanoribbons with superconducting Nb electrodes. In contrast to conventional junctions, as a function of the decreasing temperature T, the increasing critical current I c exhibits a sharp upturn at a temperature T * around 20% of the junction critical temperature for several different samples and various gate voltages. The I c vs T demonstrates a short junction behavior for T > T * , but crosses over to a long junction behavior for T < T * with an exponential T dependence I c ∝ exp(–k B T/δ), where k B is the Boltzmann constant. The extracted characteristic energy scale δ is found to be an order of magnitude smaller than the induced superconducting gap of the junction. Furthermore, we attribute the long-junction behavior with such a small δ to low-energy Andreev bound states arising from winding of the electronic wave function around the circumference of the topological insulator nanoribbon.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Josephson Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy in d x 2 -y 2 -Wave Superconductors: A Probe for the Nature of the Pseudogap in the Cuprate Superconductors

Recent advances in the development of Josephson scanning tunneling spectroscopy (JSTS) have opened a new path for the exploration of unconventional superconductors. We demonstrate that the critical current 𝐼 𝑐 , measured via JSTS, images the spatial form of the superconducting order parameter in d x 2 -y 2 -wave superconductors around defects and in the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state. Moreover, we show that 𝐼𝑐 probes the existence of phase-incoherent superconducting correlations in the pseudogap region of the cuprate superconductors, thus providing unprecedented insight into its elusive nature. Furthermore, these results provide the missing theoretical link between the experimentally measured 𝐼𝑐 and the spatial structure of the superconducting order parameter.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Critical Fluorescence of a Transmon at the Schmid Transition

Here, we investigate inelastic microwave photon scattering by a transmon qubit embedded in a high-impedance circuit. The transmon undergoes a charge-localization (Schmid) transition upon the impedance reaching the critical value. Due to the unique transmon level structure, the fluorescence spectrum carries a signature of the transition point. At higher circuit impedance, quasielastic photon scattering may account for the main part of the inelastic scattering cross-section; we find its dependence on the qubit and circuit parameters.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Josephson vortex lattice in layered superconductors

Many superconducting materials are composed of weakly coupled conducting layers. Such a layered structure has a very strong influence on the properties of vortex matter in a magnetic field. This review focuses on the properties of the Josephson vortex lattice generated by the magnetic field applied in the direction of the layers. The theoretical description is based on the Lawrence-Doniach model in the London limit, which takes only the phase degree of freedom of the superconducting order parameter into account. In spite of its simplicity, this model leads to an amazingly rich set of phenomena. We review in detail the structure of an isolated vortex line and various properties of the vortex lattice, in both dilute and dense limits. In particular, we extensively discuss the influence of the layered structure and thermal fluctuations on the selection of lattice configurations at different magnetic fields.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

The Fluctuation Formation of Phase Solitons in Superconducting Two-Band Bridges

Abstract—Based on the Ginzburg–Landau theory, the dependence of the threshold energy δF{sub thr} of formation of a phase slip center from the current for a superconducting two-band bridge has been calculated. It has been found that, in the case of sufficiently long bridges and a weak interband Josephson coupling, there is a range of currents at which fluctuation transition from the state of the zero interband phase difference to the states with a phase soliton is possible, which manifests itself in a considerable decrease in the threshold energy δF{sub thr}, and a fluctuation change in the number of phase solitons in the bridge. In the case of a strong interband coupling, no fluctuation formation of phase solitons occurs and the dependence δF{sub thr}(I) tends to the expression obtained earlier by Langer and Ambegaokar for a single-band superconductor.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

One- and Two-Qubit Gates: Rabi Technique and Single Unipolar Pulses

Methods for controlling states of interacting superconducting flux qubits using power-efficient devices of fast single-quantum logic (Josephson nonlinearity cavities) are studied. One- and two-qubit quantum logical operations performed within the conventional control technique using Rabi pulses and using picosecond single unipolar magnetic field pulses are comparatively analyzed. It is shown that all main operations can be implemented with an accuracy of better than 97% due to optimization of the shape and parameters of unipolar control pulses (associated with, e.g., propagation of fluxons in transmission lines). The efficiency of the developed technique for programming a two-qubit quantum processor implementing the simplest Deutsch–Jozsa algorithm is demonstrated.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nanoscale magnetic Josephson junctions and superconductor/ferromagnet proximity effects for low-power spintronics

Competition between superconducting and ferromagnetic ordering at interfaces between ferromagnets (F) and superconductors (S) gives rise to several proximity effects such as odd-triplet superconductivity and spin-polarized supercurrents. A prominent example of an S/F proximity effect is the spin switch effect observed in S/F/N/F superconducting spin valve multilayers, in which the superconducting transition temperature T c is controlled by the angle Φ between the magnetic moments of the F layers separated by a nonmagnetic metallic spacer N. We carried out an experimental study of spin switch effect in Nb/Co/Cu/Co/CoO x nanowires measured as a function of bias current flowing in the plane of the layers. These measurements reveal an unexpected dependence of T c (Φ) on the bias current: T c (Φ) – T c (0) changes sign with increasing current bias. We attribute the origin of this bias dependence of the spin switch effect to a spin Hall current originating in Nb and flowing perpendicular to the plane of the multilayer, which suppresses T c of the multilayer. The bias dependence of spin switch effect can be important for hybrid F/S devices such as cryogenic memory for superconducting computers when device dimensions are scaled down to the nanometer length scale.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1992

A low-noise 492 GHz SIS waveguide receiver

We discuss the design and performance of an SIS waveguide receiver which provides low noise performance from 375 to 510 GHz. At its design frequency of 492 GHz, the receiver has a double sideband noise temperature of approx. 172 K. By using embedded magnetic field concentrators, we are able to effectively suppress Josephson pair tunneling. Techniques for improving receiver performance are discussed.

Walker, C. K.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Josephson junction with two superconducting current components

The properties of a Josephson junction with the 2π- and 4π-periodic superconducting current component have been analyzed. In the range of low voltages, such a junction exhibits the 4π periodicity of the phase difference for the Majorana current amplitude much smaller than the Josephson current, which makes it possible to observe Josephson current oscillations with a fractional period for small dissipation β < 1 in the hysteresis region. The effect the 4π-periodic Majorana current component is also manifested in a change in the sequence of steps in the ladder structure emerging on the current–voltage (I–V) characteristic of the junction. We have determined the interval of external electromagnetic radiation amplitudes, in which the manifestation of the fractional Josephson effect on the I–V characteristic is most significant.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Supercapacitance and superinductance of TiN and NbTiN films in the vicinity of superconductor-to-insulator transition

We investigate the low-temperature complex impedance of disordered insulating thin TiN and NbTiN films in the frequency region 400 Hz–1 MHz in close proximity to the superconductor–insulator transition (SIT). The frequency, temperature, and magnetic field dependencies of the real and imaginary parts of the impedance indicate that in full accord with the theoretical predictions and earlier observations, the films acquire self-induced electronic granularity and become effectively random arrays of superconducting granules coupled via Josephson links. Accordingly, the inductive component of the response is due to superconducting droplets, while the capacitive component results from the effective Josephson junctions capacitances. The impedance crosses over from capacitive to inductive behavior as films go across the transition.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fermi Surface Structure and Isotropic Stability of Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov Phase in Layered Organic Superconductor β''-(BEDT-TTF) 2 SF 5 CH 2 CF 2 SO 3

The Fermi surface structure of a layered organic superconductor β''-(BEDT-TTF) 2 SF 5 CH 2 CF 2 SO 3 was determined by angular-dependent magnetoresistance oscillations measurements and band-structure calculations. This salt was found to have two small pockets with the same area: a deformed square hole pocket and an elliptic electron pocket. Characteristic corrugations in the field dependence of the interlayer resistance in the superconducting phase were observed at any in-plane field directions. The features were ascribed to the commensurability (CM) effect between the Josephson vortex lattice and the periodic nodal structure of the superconducting gap in the Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase. The CM effect was observed in a similar field region for various in-plane field directions, in spite of the anisotropic nature of the Fermi surface. The results clearly showed that the FFLO phase stability is insensitive to the in-plane field directions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1973

Josephson junction interference grating.

The maximum current through multiple Josephson structures as a function of applied magnetic field is presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the Josephson penetration depth effects and geometrical considerations. The symmetrical and asymmetrical current feed two-, three-, four-, and five-junction gratings are analyzed and discussed. The Josephson penetration depth is shown to control the amplitude of the interference and diffraction patterns of the interference grating. In addition the interior-junction-length/interference-loop-area product is shown to control the operating mode of the interference grating. The dependence of the magnetic field sensitivity and interference pattern amplitude on the number of junctions is discussed.

Stuehm, D. L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Tuning the inductance of Josephson junction arrays without SQUIDs

It is customary to use arrays of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for implementing magnetic field-tunable inductors. Here, we demonstrate an equivalent tunability in a (SQUID-free) array of single Al/AlOx/Al Josephson tunnel junctions. With the proper choice of junction geometry, a perpendicularly applied magnetic field bends along the plane of the superconductor and focuses into the tunnel barrier region due to a demagnetization effect. Consequently, the Josephson inductance can be efficiently modulated by the Fraunhofer-type supercurrent interference. The elimination of SQUIDs not only simplifies the device design and fabrication but also facilitates a denser packing of junctions, and, hence, a higher inductance per unit length. As an example, we demonstrate a transmission line, the characteristic impedance of which is field-tuned in the range of 4–8 kΩ, centered around the important value of the resistance quantum h/(2e)2≈6.5 kΩ.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2019

Effects of Thermal Fluctuations on Dynamics of Josephson Junction with Unconventional Current-Phase Relation

In this study, we carried out the analysis of the thermal fluctuations on Josephson junction (JJ) dynamics with unconventional current-phase relation (CPR). We analyzed two cases of CPR: the anharmonic term case and the case of Majorana term. An expression was obtained for the delay time and the critical current fluctuations in the case of linear growth of current via junction in two limits: low and high growth rate. The dynamical properties of JJ with unconventional CPR are determined by the renormalized critical current of JJ.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗