On the possibility of superconducting phase coherence through time barriers

Abstract

The possibility of the occurrence of weak coupling between the superconducting order parameters in a single superconductor before and after an ultrashot quenching of superconductivity, is analyzed. The time barrier corresponding to such a quenching of the order parameter has to be shorter than, or comparable with, the characteristic “coherence time”τ≈ħ/Δ. Such an effect is somewhat analogous to a Josephson effect in which phase difference is now considered in the time domain rather than in space. A qualitative derivation of the constitutive relation for such a weak time correlation is obtained which gives, by the duality condition, a dependence of the supercharge on the time phase difference. The role of high-T c superconductors in the detection of this coherent transient response appears to be quite relevant.