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Liu F, Itahashi YM, Aoki S, Dong Y, Wang Z, Ogawa N, Ideue T, Iwasa Y. Superconducting diode effect under time-reversal symmetry. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado1502. [PMID: 39083606 PMCID: PMC11290479 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
In noncentrosymmetric superconductors, superconducting and normal conductions can interchange on the basis of the current flow direction. This effect is termed a superconducting diode effect (SDE), which is a focal point of recent research. The broken inversion and time-reversal symmetry is believed to be the requirements of SDE, but their intrinsic role has remained elusive. Here, we report strain-controlled SDEs in a layered trigonal superconductor, PbTaSe2. The SDE was found exclusively in a strained device with its absence in an unstrained device despite that it is allowed in unstrained trigonal structure. Moreover, the zero-field or magnetic field-even (magnetic field-odd) SDE is observed when the strain and current are along armchair (zigzag) direction The results unambiguously demonstrate the intrinsic SDE under time-reversal symmetry and the critical role of strain-induced electric polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengshuo Liu
- Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC) and Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yuki M. Itahashi
- Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC) and Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Shunta Aoki
- Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC) and Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yu Dong
- Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC) and Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Ziqian Wang
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198, Japan
| | - Naoki Ogawa
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198, Japan
| | - Toshiya Ideue
- Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8581, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Iwasa
- Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC) and Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198, Japan
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2
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Huang J, Li Z, Bi X, Tang M, Qiu C, Qin F, Yuan H. Manipulation of Cooper-Pair Tunneling via Domain Structure in a van der Waals Ferromagnetic Josephson Junction. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2314190. [PMID: 38885314 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202314190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Ferromagnetic Josephson junctions play a key role in understanding the interplay between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in condensed matter physics. The magnetic domain structures of the ferromagnet in such junctions can significantly affect the tunneling of the superconducting Cooper pairs due to the strong interactions between Cooper pairs and local magnetic moments in the ferromagnetic tunnel barrier. However, the underlying microscopic mechanism of relevant quasiparticle tunneling processes with magnetic domain structures remains largely unexplored. Here, the manipulation of Cooper-pair tunneling in the NbSe2/Cr2Ge2Te6/NbSe2 ferromagnetic Josephson junction is demonstrated by using a multidomain ferromagnetic barrier with anisotropic magnetic moments. The evolution of up-, down-magnetized domain and Bloch domain structures in Cr2Ge2Te6 barrier under external magnetic fields leads to the enhancement of the critical tunneling supercurrent and an unconventional dual-peak feature with two local maxima in the field-dependent critical current curve. The phenomenon of magnetic-field-modulated critical tunneling supercurrent can be well explained by the competition between the coherence length of tunneling Cooper pairs and the size of magnetic domain walls in Cr2Ge2Te6 barrier. This kind of ferromagnetic Josephson junction provides an intriguing material system for manipulating Cooper-pair tunneling by tuning the local magnetic moments within magnetic Josephson junction devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwei Huang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Zeya Li
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Xiangyu Bi
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Ming Tang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Caiyu Qiu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Feng Qin
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Hongtao Yuan
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China
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3
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Xiong J, Xie J, Cheng B, Dai Y, Cui X, Wang L, Liu Z, Zhou J, Wang N, Xu X, Chen X, Cheong SW, Liang SJ, Miao F. Electrical switching of Ising-superconducting nonreciprocity for quantum neuronal transistor. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4953. [PMID: 38858363 PMCID: PMC11164936 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48882-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Nonreciprocal quantum transport effect is mainly governed by the symmetry breaking of the material systems and is gaining extensive attention in condensed matter physics. Realizing electrical switching of the polarity of the nonreciprocal transport without external magnetic field is essential to the development of nonreciprocal quantum devices. However, electrical switching of superconducting nonreciprocity remains yet to be achieved. Here, we report the observation of field-free electrical switching of nonreciprocal Ising superconductivity in Fe3GeTe2/NbSe2 van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure. By taking advantage of this electrically switchable superconducting nonreciprocity, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept nonreciprocal quantum neuronal transistor, which allows for implementing the XOR logic gate and faithfully emulating biological functionality of a cortical neuron in the brain. Our work provides a promising pathway to realize field-free and electrically switchable nonreciprocity of quantum transport and demonstrate its potential in exploring neuromorphic quantum devices with both functionality and performance beyond the traditional devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlin Xiong
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiao Xie
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Bin Cheng
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Physical Sciences, School of Science, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 210094, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yudi Dai
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyu Cui
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Lizheng Wang
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Zenglin Liu
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Ji Zhou
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Naizhou Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale and Department of Physics and Key Laboratory of Strongly Coupled Quantum Matter Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xianghan Xu
- Center for Quantum Materials Synthesis and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Xianhui Chen
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale and Department of Physics and Key Laboratory of Strongly Coupled Quantum Matter Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Sang-Wook Cheong
- Center for Quantum Materials Synthesis and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Shi-Jun Liang
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China.
| | - Feng Miao
- Institute of Brain-Inspired Intelligence, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China.
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4
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Sekiguchi F, Narita H, Hirori H, Ono T, Kanemitsu Y. Anomalous behavior of critical current in a superconducting film triggered by DC plus terahertz current. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4435. [PMID: 38789464 PMCID: PMC11126563 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48738-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The critical current in a superconductor (SC) determines the performance of many SC devices, including SC diodes which have attracted recent attention. Hitherto, studies of SC diodes are limited in the DC-field measurements, and their performance under a high-frequency current remains unexplored. Here, we conduct the first investigation on the interaction between the DC and terahertz (THz) current in a SC artificial superlattice. We found that the DC critical current is sensitively modified by THz pulse excitations in a nontrivial manner. In particular, at low-frequency THz excitations below the SC gap, the critical current becomes sensitive to the THz-field polarization direction. Furthermore, we observed anomalous behavior in which a supercurrent flows with an amplitude larger than the modified critical current. Assuming that vortex depinning determines the critical current, we show that the THz-current-driven vortex dynamics reproduce the observed behavior. While the delicate nonreciprocity in the critical current is obscured by the THz pulse excitations, the interplay between the DC and THz current causes a non-monotonic SC/normal-state switching with current amplitude, which can pave a pathway to developing SC devices with novel functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiya Sekiguchi
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan.
| | - Hideki Narita
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Hideki Hirori
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Teruo Ono
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Kanemitsu
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan.
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5
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Mao Y, Yan Q, Zhuang YC, Sun QF. Universal Spin Superconducting Diode Effect from Spin-Orbit Coupling. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 132:216001. [PMID: 38856265 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.132.216001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
We propose a universal spin superconducting diode effect (SDE) induced by spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in systems with spin-triplet correlations, where the critical spin supercurrents in opposite directions are unequal. By analysis from both the Ginzburg-Landau theory and energy band analysis, we show that the spin-↑↑ and spin-↓↓ Cooper pairs possess opposite phase gradients and opposite momenta from the SOC, which leads to the spin SDE. Two superconductors with SOC, a p-wave superconductor as a toy model and a practical superconducting nanowire, are numerically studied and they both exhibit spin SDE. In addition, our theory also provides a unified picture for both spin and charge SDEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Mao
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qing Yan
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yu-Chen Zhuang
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qing-Feng Sun
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei 230088, China
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6
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Ghosh S, Patil V, Basu A, Kuldeep, Dutta A, Jangade DA, Kulkarni R, Thamizhavel A, Steiner JF, von Oppen F, Deshmukh MM. High-temperature Josephson diode. NATURE MATERIALS 2024; 23:612-618. [PMID: 38321240 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01804-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Many superconducting systems with broken time-reversal and inversion symmetry show a superconducting diode effect, a non-reciprocal phenomenon analogous to semiconducting p-n-junction diodes. While the superconducting diode effect lays the foundation for realizing ultralow dissipative circuits, Josephson-phenomena-based diode effect (JDE) can enable the realization of protected qubits. The superconducting diode effect and JDE reported thus far are at low temperatures (~4 K), limiting their applications. Here we demonstrate JDE persisting up to 77 K using an artificial Josephson junction of twisted layers of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ. JDE manifests as an asymmetry in the magnitude and distributions of switching currents, attaining the maximum at 45° twist. The asymmetry is induced by and tunable with a very small magnetic field applied perpendicular to the junction and arises due to interaction between Josephson and Abrikosov vortices. We report a large asymmetry of 60% at 20 K. Our results provide a path towards realizing superconducting Josephson circuits at liquid-nitrogen temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanat Ghosh
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.
| | - Vilas Patil
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Amit Basu
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Kuldeep
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Achintya Dutta
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Digambar A Jangade
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Ruta Kulkarni
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - A Thamizhavel
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Jacob F Steiner
- Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems and Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix von Oppen
- Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems and Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mandar M Deshmukh
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.
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7
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Li C, Lyu YY, Yue WC, Huang P, Li H, Li T, Wang CG, Yuan Z, Dong Y, Ma X, Tu X, Tao T, Dong S, He L, Jia X, Sun G, Kang L, Wang H, Peeters FM, Milošević MV, Wu P, Wang YL. Unconventional Superconducting Diode Effects via Antisymmetry and Antisymmetry Breaking. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:4108-4116. [PMID: 38536003 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c05008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Symmetry breaking plays a pivotal role in unlocking intriguing properties and functionalities in material systems. For example, the breaking of spatial and temporal symmetries leads to a fascinating phenomenon: the superconducting diode effect. However, generating and precisely controlling the superconducting diode effect pose significant challenges. Here, we take a novel route with the deliberate manipulation of magnetic charge potentials to realize unconventional superconducting flux-quantum diode effects. We achieve this through suitably tailored nanoengineered arrays of nanobar magnets on top of a superconducting thin film. We demonstrate the vital roles of inversion antisymmetry and its breaking in evoking unconventional superconducting effects, namely a magnetically symmetric diode effect and an odd-parity magnetotransport effect. These effects are nonvolatilely controllable through in situ magnetization switching of the nanobar magnets. Our findings promote the use of antisymmetry (breaking) for initiating unconventional superconducting properties, paving the way for exciting prospects and innovative functionalities in superconducting electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Li
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
| | - Yang-Yang Lyu
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
| | - Wen-Cheng Yue
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
| | - Peiyuan Huang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Haojie Li
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chen-Guang Wang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
| | - Zixiong Yuan
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ying Dong
- College of Metrology & Measurement Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Microsoft, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052, United States
| | - Xuecou Tu
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tao Tao
- National Key Laboratory of Spintronics, Nanjing University, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Sining Dong
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- National Key Laboratory of Spintronics, Nanjing University, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Liang He
- National Key Laboratory of Spintronics, Nanjing University, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Xiaoqing Jia
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Guozhu Sun
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
| | - Lin Kang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Huabing Wang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
| | - Francois M Peeters
- Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará́, Campus do Pici, 60455-900 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Milorad V Milošević
- Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Peiheng Wu
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
| | - Yong-Lei Wang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing 211111, China
- National Key Laboratory of Spintronics, Nanjing University, Suzhou 215163, China
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8
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Coraiola M, Svetogorov AE, Haxell DZ, Sabonis D, Hinderling M, Ten Kate SC, Cheah E, Krizek F, Schott R, Wegscheider W, Cuevas JC, Belzig W, Nichele F. Flux-Tunable Josephson Diode Effect in a Hybrid Four-Terminal Josephson Junction. ACS NANO 2024; 18:9221-9231. [PMID: 38488287 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
We investigate the direction-dependent switching current in a flux-tunable four-terminal Josephson junction defined in an InAs/Al two-dimensional heterostructure. The device exhibits the Josephson diode effect with switching currents that depend on the sign of the bias current. The superconducting diode efficiency, reaching a maximum of |η| ≈ 34%, is widely tunable─both in amplitude and sign─as a function of magnetic fluxes and gate voltages. Our observations are supported by a circuit model of three parallel Josephson junctions with nonsinusoidal current-phase relation. With respect to conventional Josephson interferometers, phase-tunable multiterminal Josephson junctions enable large diode efficiencies in structurally symmetric devices, where local magnetic fluxes generated on the chip break both time-reversal and spatial symmetries. Our work presents an approach for developing Josephson diodes with wide-range tunability that do not rely on exotic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Coraiola
- IBM Research Europe─Zurich, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Erik Cheah
- Laboratory for Solid State Physics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Filip Krizek
- IBM Research Europe─Zurich, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
- Laboratory for Solid State Physics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 162 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Rüdiger Schott
- Laboratory for Solid State Physics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Werner Wegscheider
- Laboratory for Solid State Physics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Juan Carlos Cuevas
- Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada and Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Wolfgang Belzig
- Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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9
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Banerjee S, Scheurer MS. Enhanced Superconducting Diode Effect due to Coexisting Phases. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 132:046003. [PMID: 38335356 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.132.046003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The superconducting diode effect refers to an asymmetry in the critical supercurrent J_{c}(n[over ^]) along opposite directions, J_{c}(n[over ^])≠J_{c}(-n[over ^]). While the basic symmetry requirements for this effect are known, it is, for junction-free systems, difficult to capture within current theoretical models the large current asymmetries J_{c}(n[over ^])/J_{c}(-n[over ^]) recently observed in experiment. We here propose and develop a theory for an enhancement mechanism of the diode effect arising from spontaneous symmetry breaking. We show-both within a phenomenological and a microscopic theory-that there is a coupling of the supercurrent and the underlying symmetry-breaking order parameter. This coupling can enhance the current asymmetry significantly. Our work might not only provide a possible explanation for recent experiments on trilayer graphene but also pave the way for future realizations of the superconducting diode effect with large current asymmetries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Banerjee
- Institute for Theoretical Physics III, University of Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany and Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria
| | - Mathias S Scheurer
- Institute for Theoretical Physics III, University of Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany and Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria
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10
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Jo J, Peisen Y, Yang H, Mañas-Valero S, Baldoví JJ, Lu Y, Coronado E, Casanova F, Bergeret FS, Gobbi M, Hueso LE. Local control of superconductivity in a NbSe 2/CrSBr van der Waals heterostructure. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7253. [PMID: 37945570 PMCID: PMC10636142 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43111-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Two-dimensional magnets and superconductors are emerging as tunable building-blocks for quantum computing and superconducting spintronic devices, and have been used to fabricate all two-dimensional versions of traditional devices, such as Josephson junctions. However, novel devices enabled by unique features of two-dimensional materials have not yet been demonstrated. Here, we present NbSe2/CrSBr van der Waals superconducting spin valves that exhibit infinite magnetoresistance and nonreciprocal charge transport. These responses arise from a unique metamagnetic transition in CrSBr, which controls the presence of localized stray fields suitably oriented to suppress the NbSe2 superconductivity in nanoscale regions and to break time reversal symmetry. Moreover, by integrating different CrSBr crystals in a lateral heterostructure, we demonstrate a superconductive spin valve characterized by multiple stable resistance states. Our results show how the unique physical properties of layered materials enable the realization of high-performance quantum devices based on novel working principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhyeon Jo
- CIC nanoGUNE BRTA, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
| | - Yuan Peisen
- CIC nanoGUNE BRTA, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Haozhe Yang
- CIC nanoGUNE BRTA, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Samuel Mañas-Valero
- Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol), Universitat de València, Paterna, Spain
| | - José J Baldoví
- Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol), Universitat de València, Paterna, Spain
| | - Yao Lu
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM-MPC) Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Eugenio Coronado
- Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol), Universitat de València, Paterna, Spain
| | - Fèlix Casanova
- CIC nanoGUNE BRTA, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - F Sebastian Bergeret
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM-MPC) Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), E-20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM-MPC) Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Luis E Hueso
- CIC nanoGUNE BRTA, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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11
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Qiu G, Yang HY, Hu L, Zhang H, Chen CY, Lyu Y, Eckberg C, Deng P, Krylyuk S, Davydov AV, Zhang R, Wang KL. Emergent ferromagnetism with superconductivity in Fe(Te,Se) van der Waals Josephson junctions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6691. [PMID: 37872165 PMCID: PMC10593760 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42447-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferromagnetism and superconductivity are two key ingredients for topological superconductors, which can serve as building blocks of fault-tolerant quantum computers. Adversely, ferromagnetism and superconductivity are typically also two hostile orderings competing to align spins in different configurations, and thus making the material design and experimental implementation extremely challenging. A single material platform with concurrent ferromagnetism and superconductivity is actively pursued. In this paper, we fabricate van der Waals Josephson junctions made with iron-based superconductor Fe(Te,Se), and report the global device-level transport signatures of interfacial ferromagnetism emerging with superconducting states for the first time. Magnetic hysteresis in the junction resistance is observed only below the superconducting critical temperature, suggesting an inherent correlation between ferromagnetic and superconducting order parameters. The 0-π phase mixing in the Fraunhofer patterns pinpoints the ferromagnetism on the junction interface. More importantly, a stochastic field-free superconducting diode effect was observed in Josephson junction devices, with a significant diode efficiency up to 10%, which unambiguously confirms the spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking. Our work demonstrates a new way to search for topological superconductivity in iron-based superconductors for future high Tc fault-tolerant qubit implementations from a device perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Qiu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Hung-Yu Yang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Lunhui Hu
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Huairuo Zhang
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
- Theiss Research, Inc, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Chih-Yen Chen
- Department of Electrophysics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
| | - Yanfeng Lyu
- School of Science, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Christopher Eckberg
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Fibertek Inc, Herndon, VA, 20171, USA
- DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD, 20783, USA
- DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Playa Vista, Los Angeles, CA, 90094, USA
| | - Peng Deng
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, 100193, Beijing, China
| | - Sergiy Krylyuk
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Albert V Davydov
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Ruixing Zhang
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Kang L Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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12
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Narita H, Ishizuka J, Kan D, Shimakawa Y, Yanase Y, Ono T. Magnetization Control of Zero-Field Intrinsic Superconducting Diode Effect. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2304083. [PMID: 37410358 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
The superconducting diode effect (SDE), which causes a superconducting state in one direction and a normal-conducting state in another, has significant potential for developing ultralow power consumption circuits and non-volatile memory. However, the practical control of the SDE necessities the precise tuning of current, temperature, magnetic field, or magnetism. Therefore, the mechanisms of the SDE must be understood to develop novel materials and devices capable of realizing the SDE under more controlled and robust conditions. This study demonstrates an intrinsic zero-field SDE with an efficiency of up to 40% in Fe/Pt-inserted non-centrosymmetric Nb/V/Ta superconducting artificial superlattices. The polarity and magnitude of the zero-field SDE are controllable by the direction of magnetization, indicating that the effective exchange field acts on Cooper pairs. Furthermore, the first-principles calculation indicates that the SDE can be enhanced by an asymmetric configuration of proximity induced magnetic moments in superconducting layers, which induces a magnetic toroidal moment. This study has important implications regarding the development of novel materials and devices that can effectively control the SDE. Moreover, the magnetization control of the SDE is expected to aid in the designing of superconducting quantum devices and establishing a material platform for topological superconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Narita
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Jun Ishizuka
- Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Ikarashi, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kan
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
- Center for Spintronics Research Network, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Yuichi Shimakawa
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
- Center for Spintronics Research Network, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Youichi Yanase
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
- Institute for Molecular Science, Okazaki, 444-0867, Japan
| | - Teruo Ono
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
- Center for Spintronics Research Network, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
- Center for Spintronics Research Network, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, 560-0043, Japan
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13
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Lu B, Ikegaya S, Burset P, Tanaka Y, Nagaosa N. Tunable Josephson Diode Effect on the Surface of Topological Insulators. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:096001. [PMID: 37721825 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.096001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
The Josephson rectification effect, where the resistance is finite in one direction while zero in the other, has been recently realized experimentally. The resulting Josephson diode has many potential applications on superconducting devices, including quantum computers. Here, we theoretically show that a superconductor-normal metal-superconductor Josephson junction diode on the two-dimensional surface of a topological insulator has large tunability. The magnitude and sign of the diode quality factor strongly depend on the external magnetic field, gate voltage, and the length of the junction. Such rich properties stem from the interplay between different current-phase relations for the multiple transverse transport channels, and can be used for designing realistic superconducting diode devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lu
- Center for Joint Quantum Studies, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Materials Physics and Preparing Technology, Department of Physics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
| | - Satoshi Ikegaya
- Department of Applied Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Pablo Burset
- Department of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC) and Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Yukio Tanaka
- Department of Applied Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
- Research Center for Crystalline Materials Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Naoto Nagaosa
- Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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14
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He JJ, Tanaka Y, Nagaosa N. The supercurrent diode effect and nonreciprocal paraconductivity due to the chiral structure of nanotubes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3330. [PMID: 37286618 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39083-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The phenomenon that critical supercurrents along opposite directions become unequal is called the supercurrent diode effect (SDE). It has been observed in various systems and can often be understood by combining spin-orbit coupling and Zeeman field, which break the spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetries, respectively. Here, we theoretically investigate another mechanism of breaking these symmetries and predict the existence of the SDE in chiral nanotubes without spin-orbit coupling. The symmetries are broken by the chiral structure and a magnetic flux through the tube. With a generalized Ginzburg-Landau theory, we obtain the main features of the SDE in its dependence on system parameters. We further show that the same Ginzburg-Landau free energy leads to another important manifestation of the nonreciprocity in superconducting systems, i.e., the nonreciprocal paraconductivity (NPC) slightly above the transition temperature. Our study suggests a new class of realistic platforms to investigate nonreciprocal properties of superconducting materials. It also provides a theoretical link between the SDE and the NPC, which were often studied separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Jun He
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, Anhui, 230088, China.
- International Center for Quantum Design of Functional Materials (ICQD), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China.
| | - Yukio Tanaka
- Department of Applied Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Naoto Nagaosa
- Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
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15
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Chiles J, Arnault EG, Chen CC, Larson TFQ, Zhao L, Watanabe K, Taniguchi T, Amet F, Finkelstein G. Nonreciprocal Supercurrents in a Field-Free Graphene Josephson Triode. NANO LETTERS 2023. [PMID: 37191404 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Superconducting diodes are proposed nonreciprocal circuit elements that should exhibit nondissipative transport in one direction while being resistive in the opposite direction. Multiple examples of such devices have emerged in the past couple of years; however, their efficiency is typically limited, and most of them require a magnetic field to function. Here we present a device that achieves efficiencies approaching 100% while operating at zero field. Our samples consist of a network of three graphene Josephson junctions linked by a common superconducting island, to which we refer as a Josephson triode. The three-terminal nature of the device inherently breaks the inversion symmetry, and the control current applied to one of the contacts breaks the time-reversal symmetry. The triode's utility is demonstrated by rectifying a small (nA scale amplitude) applied square wave. We speculate that devices of this type could be realistically employed in the modern quantum circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chiles
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States
| | - Ethan G Arnault
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States
| | - Chun-Chia Chen
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States
| | - Trevyn F Q Larson
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States
| | - Lingfei Zhao
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States
| | - Kenji Watanabe
- National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan
| | | | - François Amet
- Department of Physics and Astonomy, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28607, United States
| | - Gleb Finkelstein
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States
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16
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Steiner JF, Melischek L, Trahms M, Franke KJ, von Oppen F. Diode Effects in Current-Biased Josephson Junctions. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:177002. [PMID: 37172233 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.177002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Current-biased Josephson junctions exhibit hysteretic transitions between dissipative and superconducting states as characterized by switching and retrapping currents. Here, we develop a theory for diodelike effects in the switching and retrapping currents of weakly damped Josephson junctions. We find that while the diodelike behavior of switching currents is rooted in asymmetric current-phase relations, nonreciprocal retrapping currents originate in asymmetric quasiparticle currents. These different origins also imply distinctly different symmetry requirements. We illustrate our results by a microscopic model for junctions involving a single magnetic atom. Our theory provides significant guidance in identifying the microscopic origin of nonreciprocities in Josephson junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob F Steiner
- Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems and Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Larissa Melischek
- Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems and Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martina Trahms
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Felix von Oppen
- Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems and Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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17
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Yokouchi T, Ikeda Y, Morimoto T, Shiomi Y. Giant Magnetochiral Anisotropy in Weyl Semimetal WTe_{2} Induced by Diverging Berry Curvature. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:136301. [PMID: 37067327 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.136301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The concept of Berry curvature is essential for various transport phenomena. However, an effect of the Berry curvature on magnetochiral anisotropy, i.e., nonreciprocal magnetotransport, is still elusive. Here, we report that the Berry curvature induces the large magnetochiral anisotropy. In Weyl semimetal WTe_{2}, we observe the strong enhancement of the magnetochiral anisotropy when the Fermi level is located near the Weyl points. Notably, the maximal figure of merit γ[over ¯] reaches 1.2×10^{-6} m^{2} T^{-1} A^{-1}, which is the largest ever reported in bulk materials. Our semiclassical calculation shows that the diverging Berry curvature at the Weyl points strongly enhances the magnetochiral anisotropy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Yokouchi
- Department of Basic Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan
| | - Yuya Ikeda
- Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takahiro Morimoto
- Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yuki Shiomi
- Department of Basic Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan
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18
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Sundaresh A, Väyrynen JI, Lyanda-Geller Y, Rokhinson LP. Diamagnetic mechanism of critical current non-reciprocity in multilayered superconductors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1628. [PMID: 36959191 PMCID: PMC10036566 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36786-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The suggestion that non-reciprocal critical current (NRC) may be an intrinsic property of non-centrosymmetric superconductors has generated renewed theoretical and experimental interest motivated by an analogy with the non-reciprocal resistivity due to the magnetochiral effect in uniform materials with broken spatial and time-reversal symmetry. Theoretically it has been understood that terms linear in the Cooper pair momentum do not contribute to NRC, although the role of higher-order terms remains unclear. In this work we show that critical current non-reciprocity is a generic property of multilayered superconductor structures in the presence of magnetic field-generated diamagnetic currents. In the regime of an intermediate coupling between the layers, the Josephson vortices are predicted to form at high fields and currents. Experimentally, we report the observation of NRC in nanowires fabricated from InAs/Al heterostructures. The effect is independent of the crystallographic orientation of the wire, ruling out an intrinsic origin of NRC. Non-monotonic NRC evolution with magnetic field is consistent with the generation of diamagnetic currents and formation of the Josephson vortices. This extrinsic NRC mechanism can be used to design novel devices for superconducting circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananthesh Sundaresh
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jukka I Väyrynen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Yuli Lyanda-Geller
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Leonid P Rokhinson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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19
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Trahms M, Melischek L, Steiner JF, Mahendru B, Tamir I, Bogdanoff N, Peters O, Reecht G, Winkelmann CB, von Oppen F, Franke KJ. Diode effect in Josephson junctions with a single magnetic atom. Nature 2023; 615:628-633. [PMID: 36890238 PMCID: PMC10033399 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05743-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Current flow in electronic devices can be asymmetric with bias direction, a phenomenon underlying the utility of diodes1 and known as non-reciprocal charge transport2. The promise of dissipationless electronics has recently stimulated the quest for superconducting diodes, and non-reciprocal superconducting devices have been realized in various non-centrosymmetric systems3-10. Here we investigate the ultimate limits of miniaturization by creating atomic-scale Pb-Pb Josephson junctions in a scanning tunnelling microscope. Pristine junctions stabilized by a single Pb atom exhibit hysteretic behaviour, confirming the high quality of the junctions, but no asymmetry between the bias directions. Non-reciprocal supercurrents emerge when inserting a single magnetic atom into the junction, with the preferred direction depending on the atomic species. Aided by theoretical modelling, we trace the non-reciprocity to quasiparticle currents flowing by means of electron-hole asymmetric Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states inside the superconducting energy gap and identify a new mechanism for diode behaviour in Josephson junctions. Our results open new avenues for creating atomic-scale Josephson diodes and tuning their properties through single-atom manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Trahms
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Larissa Melischek
- Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jacob F Steiner
- Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bharti Mahendru
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Idan Tamir
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nils Bogdanoff
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Olof Peters
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gaël Reecht
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Felix von Oppen
- Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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20
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Zhao C, Yi X, Chen Q, Yan C, Wang S. Josephson Effect in NbS 2 van der Waals Junctions. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:10811-10815. [PMID: 36378687 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c02927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
van der Waals (vdW) Josephson junctions can possibly accelerate the development of an advanced superconducting device that utilizes the unique properties of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) superconductors such as spin-orbit coupling and spin-valley locking. Here, we fabricate vertically stacked NbS2/NbS2 Josephson junctions using a modified all-dry transfer technique and characterize the device performance via systematic low-temperature transport measurements. The experimental results show that the superconducting transition temperature of the NbS2/NbS2 Josephson junction is 5.84 K, and the critical current density reaches 3975 A/cm2 at 2 K. Moreover, we extract a superconducting energy gap Δ = 0.58 meV, which is considerably smaller than that expected from the single band s-wave Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) model (Δ = 0.89 meV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanwen Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Fundamental Physical Quantities Measurement & Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, PGMF and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430074, China
| | - Xin Yi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Fundamental Physical Quantities Measurement & Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, PGMF and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430074, China
| | - Qiao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Fundamental Physical Quantities Measurement & Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, PGMF and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430074, China
| | - Chengyu Yan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Fundamental Physical Quantities Measurement & Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, PGMF and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430074, China
- Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430074, China
| | - Shun Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Fundamental Physical Quantities Measurement & Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, PGMF and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430074, China
- Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430074, China
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