Monte Carlo study of resistivity scaling in Josephson-junction arrays at irrational frustration

Abstract

We use a driven Monte Carlo dynamics in the phase representation to determine the linear and nonlinear resistivity scaling of a two-dimensional Josephson-junction array at an irrational flux quantum per plaquette. The results are consistent with a phase-coherence transition scenario where the critical temperature vanishes. The linear resistivity is nonzero at any finite temperatures but nonlinear behavior sets in at a characteristic current density determined by the thermal critical exponent. From a dynamic scaling analysis we determine this critical exponent and the thermally activated behavior of the linear resistivity.