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Functional superconductor interfaces from broken time-reversal symmetry
P M R Brydon1, Christian Iniotakis, Dirk Manske
1Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. brydon@theory.phy.tu-dresden.de
Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2010
Summary
Breaking time-reversal symmetry in triplet superconductor Josephson junctions causes magnetic instability. This leads to fractional flux quanta and an exotic Josephson state, detectable via critical current measurements.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Superconductivity
- Quantum Electronics
Background:
- Josephson junctions are fundamental in quantum electronics.
- Triplet superconductors exhibit unique quantum phenomena.
- Time-reversal symmetry breaking is key to novel electronic states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of time-reversal symmetry breaking in triplet superconductor Josephson junctions.
- To explore the emergence of magnetic instability and exotic Josephson states.
- To identify experimental signatures of these phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Ginzburg-Landau analysis of free energy.
- Microscopic modeling of the Josephson junction.
- Analysis of critical current measurements.
Main Results:
- Time-reversal symmetry breaking induces magnetic instability at the tunneling barrier.
- Prediction of an exotic Josephson state characterized by fractional flux quanta.
- Demonstration of the orbital pairing state's importance via complementary models.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a novel functional behavior in triplet superconductor Josephson junctions.
- Fractional flux quanta and magnetic instability are key features of the predicted exotic state.
- Critical current measurements can detect these predicted phenomena.
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