Targeted modifications of monolithic multiterminal superconducting weak-links

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Metallic interconnects are crucial in electronic devices.
• Controlling material properties in complex circuits is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate all-electric control over material properties in multiterminal metallic interconnects.
• To investigate the modification of superconducting critical current in selected junctions.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing Y-shape multiterminal devices made of Niobium (Nb) on sapphire.
• Applying controlled intensity and polarity of electrical current to induce targeted modifications.
• Observing changes in superconducting critical current and critical current oscillations.

Main Results:

• Successfully lowered the superconducting critical current in a preselected junction.
• Observed gradual appearance of Fraunhofer-like critical current oscillations, indicating weak link modification.
• Demonstrated that modifications are localized to the targeted junction without affecting neighboring terminals.

Conclusions:

• The proposed inexpensive method enables precise, localized, all-electric control of superconducting properties.
• This technique is a significant advancement for developing all-electric control of multiterminal Josephson junctions.