Electron transport and microwave dynamics of hybrid Nb/Au/CaSrCuO/YBaCuO planar Josephson junctions

Abstract

We report on measurements of dc electron transport and microwave dynamics of thin film hybrid Josephson junctions with an oxide antiferromagnetic interlayer. The base superconducting electrode YBaCuO and the antiferromagnetic (AF) interlayer CaSrCuO (with thickness d = 20 – 70 nm) were grown by laser ablation on NdGaO3 substrates. I-V curves were well fitted to RSJ model and had no excess current, ICRN products were of order 0.2 mV at T=4.2 K. We did not observe any noticeable reduction of ICRN with increasing d. Such "tunnellike" behaviour also resulted in appearance of singularities on I-V curve when magnetic field was applied. Oscillating with microwave power integer and half-integer Shapiro steps were registered along with sub-harmonic detector response. Moreover, for some of junctions a "devil" staircase structure was observed on I-V curves and giant noise-like signals were measured in 1-2 GHz band at the certain levels of microwave power. Observed features, noise performance and the impact of the second harmonic in current-phase relation on junction dynamics are discussed taking into account data for structures without AF interlayer.