Josephson detection of time-reversal symmetry broken superconductivity in SnTe nanowires
Autor: | Ming-Tso Wei, Christie J. Trimble, Pengzi Liu, N. F. Q. Yuan, James R. Williams, Sandesh S. Kalantre, Yan Zhu, L. Fu, Hyeuk Jin Han, Judy J. Cha, Myung-Geun Han |
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Rok vydání: | 2021 |
Předmět: |
Josephson effect
Superconductivity Physics Condensed matter physics Supercurrent Nanowire 02 engineering and technology 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology Condensed Matter Physics 01 natural sciences Ferroelectricity Symmetry (physics) Electronic Optical and Magnetic Materials Magnetic field T-symmetry Condensed Matter::Superconductivity 0103 physical sciences TA401-492 Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter 010306 general physics 0210 nano-technology Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials QC170-197 |
Zdroj: | npj Quantum Materials, Vol 6, Iss 1, Pp 1-6 (2021) |
ISSN: | 2397-4648 |
Popis: | A Josephson junction (JJ) couples the supercurrent flowing between two weakly linked superconductors to the phase difference between them via a current-phase relation (CPR). While a sinusoidal CPR is expected for conventional junctions with insulating weak links, devices made from some exotic materials may give rise to unconventional CPRs and unusual Josephson effects. In this work, we present such a case: we investigate the proximity-induced superconductivity in SnTe nanowires by incorporating them as weak links in JJs and observe a deviation from the standard CPR. We report on indications of an unexpected breaking of time-reversal symmetry in these devices, detailing the unconventional characteristics that reveal this behavior. These include an asymmetric critical current in the DC Josephson effect, a prominent second harmonic in the AC Josephson effect, and a magnetic diffraction pattern with a minimum in critical current at zero magnetic field. The analysis examines how multiband effects and the experimentally visualized ferroelectric domain walls give rise to this behavior, giving insight into the Josephson effect in materials that possess ferroelectricity and/or multiband superconductivity. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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