Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform
Published on: August 2, 2019
Phase Offsets in the Critical-Current Oscillations of Josephson Junctions Based on Ni and Ni-(Ni81Fe19) x Nb y
B Baek1, M L Schneider1, M R Pufall1
1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA.
Abstract:
We measure and compare the critical-current oscillation characteristics of Josephson junctions as a function of Ni thickness in different barrier structures. The characteristics dependent on the relative Ni thickness, such as the presence of nodes and the oscillation period, are consistent with a conventional, clean-limit magnetic Josephson-junction model. However, the oscillation phases have different offsets in the Ni thickness between single Ni and Ni-(Ni81Fe19) x Nb y -based barriers, which cannot be explained by the bulk exchange field effect alone. This effect does not originate from the ferromagnetism in (Ni81Fe19) x Nb y nor is it cumulative with an additional (Ni81Fe19) x Nb y layer. Our results present clear evidence that a nonmagnetic layer can affect the superconducting spin phase across the junction as strongly as the conventional exchange field effect.
Related Concept Videos
Biasing of Metal-Semiconductor Junctions
In Schottky junctions, where the semiconductor is n-type, applying a positive voltage to the metal relative to the semiconductor reduces its Fermi...
Biasing of P-N Junction
In equilibrium, no external voltage is applied across the p-n junction. The depletion region is formed at the junction interface due to the diffusion of carriers, which leaves behind charged dopants, acceptors on the p-side, and donors on the n-side. These immobile charges create an electric field that prevents further diffusion of carriers. The related energy band...
P-N junction
Metal-Semiconductor Junctions
Schottky Barriers
Schottky barriers arise when a metal with a work function (Φm) contacts a semiconductor with a different work function (Φs). Initially, electrons transfer until the Fermi levels of the metal and semiconductor align at equilibrium. For instance, if Φm > Φs, the semiconductor Fermi level is higher than the metal's before contact. The semiconductor's...
Biasing of FET
In an N-channel JFET, the structure consists of N-type material forming the channel on a P-type substrate, with the gate...
Semiconductors
Metals such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), or lead (Pb) have low resistivity and feature conduction bands that are either not fully occupied or overlap with the valence band, making a bandgap non-existent. This allows electrons in the highest energy levels of the valence band to easily transition to the conduction band upon gaining...

