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Zero-field polarity-reversible Josephson supercurrent diodes enabled by a proximity-magnetized Pt barrier
Kun-Rok Jeon1,2, Jae-Keun Kim3, Jiho Yoon3
1Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Halle (Saale), Germany. jeonkunrok@gmail.com.
Nature Materials
|July 7, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a new Josephson diode that works without a magnetic field, achieving high efficiency by engineering spin properties at interfaces. This breakthrough enables polarity-switchable supercurrent diodes for advanced electronic applications.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Electronics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Non-reciprocal electronic transport, or diode effects, arise from breaking inversion and time-reversal symmetries.
- Existing diode effects often require external magnetic fields, limiting practical applications.
- Josephson junctions offer a platform for exploring exotic quantum phenomena, including non-reciprocity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a polarity-switchable Josephson supercurrent diode operating without an external magnetic field.
- To investigate the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for zero-field diode efficiency.
- To advance the development of field-free absolute Josephson diodes.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a Josephson junction utilizing a proximity-magnetized platinum (Pt) layer as a Rashba-type Josephson barrier, interfaced with a ferrimagnetic insulator Y3Fe5O12.
- Characterization of the device's diode efficiency and its temperature dependence.
- In-plane magnetic field-strength and angle-dependent measurements, including comparisons with control junctions.
Main Results:
- Achieved a zero-field diode efficiency of up to ±35% at 2 K, exhibiting a square-root temperature dependence.
- Demonstrated that exchange spin-splitting and Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling at the Pt/Y3Fe5O12 interface are crucial for the observed high efficiency.
- Confirmed the role of these interfacial effects through comparative studies with control devices.
Conclusions:
- Successfully engineered a field-free Josephson supercurrent diode by leveraging interfacial spin properties.
- The developed device exhibits significant diode efficiency without requiring external magnetic fields.
- This work paves the way for novel superconducting spintronic devices and absolute Josephson diodes.
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