Josephson Plasma Research Articles

Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifiers with plasma oscillation phase matching

High gain and large bandwidth of traveling-wave parametric amplifier exploiting the nonlinearity of Josephson Junctions can be achieved by fulfilling the so-called phase-matching condition. This condition is usually addressed by placing resonant structures along the waveguide or by periodic modulations of its parameters, creating gaps in the waveguide’s dispersion. Here, we propose to employ the Josephson junctions, which constitute the centerline of the amplifier, as resonant elements for phase matching. By numerical simulations in JoSIM (and WRspice) software, we show that Josephson plasma oscillations can be utilized to create wave vector mismatch sufficient for phase matching as well as to prevent the conversion of the pump energy to higher harmonics. The proposed traveling wave parametric amplifier design has a gain of 15 dB and a 3 GHz bandwidth, which is comparable to the state-of-the-art TWPAs.

Resonant switching current detector based on underdamped Josephson junctions

Current-biased Josephson junctions can act as detectors of electromagnetic radiation. At optimal conditions, their sensitivity is limited by fluctuations causing stochastic switching from the superconducting to the resistive state. This work provides a quantitative description of a stochastic switching current detector, based on an underdamped Josephson junction. It is shown that activation of a Josephson plasma resonance can greatly enhance the detector responsivity in proportion to the quality factor of the junction. The ways of tuning the detector for achieving optimal operation are discussed. For realistic parameters of Nb/AlOx/Nb tunnel junctions, the sensitivity and noise-equivalent power (NEP) can reach values of S≃5×1012 (V/W) and NEP≃2×10−23 (WHz−1/2), respectively. These outstanding characteristics facilitate both bolometric and single-photon detection in microwave and terahertz ranges. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Observation of Momentum Space Josephson Effects in Weakly Coupled Bose-Einstein Condensates.

The momentum space Josephson effect describes the supercurrent flow between weakly coupled Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) at two discrete momentum states. Here, we experimentally observe this exotic phenomenon using a BEC with Raman-induced spin-orbit coupling, where the tunneling between two local band minima is implemented by the momentum kick of an additional optical lattice. A sudden quench of the Raman detuning induces coherent spin-momentum oscillations of the BEC, which is analogous to the ac Josephson effect. We observe both plasma and regular Josephson oscillations in different parameter regimes. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical model and numerical simulation and showcase the important role of nonlinear interactions. We also show that the measurement of the Josephson plasma frequency gives the Bogoliubov zero quasimomentum gap, which determines the mass of the corresponding pseudo-Goldstone mode, a long-sought phenomenon in particle physics. The observation of momentum space Josephson physics offers an exciting platform for quantum simulation and sensing utilizing momentum states as a synthetic degree.

Revealing the frequency-dependent oscillations in the nonlinear terahertz response induced by the Josephson current.

Nonlinear responses of superconductors to intense terahertz radiation has been an active research frontier. Using terahertz pump-terahertz probe spectroscopy, we investigate the c-axis nonlinear optical response of a high-temperature superconducting cuprate. After excitation by a single-cycle terahertz pump pulse, the reflectivity of the probe pulse oscillates as the pump-probe delay is varied. Interestingly, the oscillatory central frequency scales linearly with the probe frequency, a fact widely overlooked in pump-probe experiments. By theoretically solving the nonlinear optical reflection problem on the interface, we show that our observation is well explained by the Josephson-type third-order nonlinear electrodynamics, together with the emission coefficient from inside the material into free space. The latter results in a strong enhancement of the emitted signal whose physical frequency is around the Josephson plasma edge. Our result offers a benchmark for and new insights into strong-field terahertz spectroscopy of related quantum materials.

Light-induced coherent interlayer transport in stripe-ordered La1.6−xNd0.4SrxCuO4

We have investigated the photoexcited transient responses of stripe-ordered phase in a cuprate superconductor, ${\rm La}_{1.6-x}{\rm Nd}_{0.4}{\rm Sr}_{x}{\rm CuO}_{4}~(x = 0.12)$ using optical-pump terahertz (THz)-probe spectroscopy. Upon the near-infrared photoexcitation with the electric field polarized along the $c$-axis, a clear plasma edge appears in the THz reflection spectrum along the $c$-axis with its position nearly coinciding with the Josephson plasma resonance of similarly doped ${\rm La}_{2-x}{\rm Sr}_{x}{\rm CuO}_{4}~(x = 0.125)$ in the low-temperature superconducting phase. The appearance of light-induced plasma edge sustains up to the onset temperature of the charge-stripe order, indicating the inherent interplay between the light-induced phase and the charge-stripe order. The optical conductivity spectrum of the light-induced state is mostly reproduced by the Drude model with a scattering rate as small as a few meV, and its imaginary part does not exhibit $1/{\omega}$-divergence behavior in any temporal region after the photoexcitation. We discuss the possible origin of the observed coherent interlayer transport behavior as manifested by the narrow Drude response in the THz reflectivity along the $c$-axis.

Terahertz third harmonic generation in c -axis La1.85Sr0.15CuO4

Terahertz nonlinear optics is a viable method to interrogate collective phenomena in quantum materials spanning ferroelectrics, charge-density waves, and superconductivity. In superconductors this includes the Higgs amplitude and Josephson phase modes. We have investigated the nonlinear $c$-axis response of optimally doped ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.85}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{0.15}\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ using high-field THz time domain spectroscopy at field strengths up to $\ensuremath{\sim}80$ kV/cm. With increasing field, we observe a distinct redshift of the Josephson plasma edge and enhanced reflectivity (above the plasma edge) arising from third harmonic generation. The nonmonotonic temperature-dependent response is consistent with nonlinear drive of the Josephson plasma mode (JPM) as verified with comparison to theoretical expectations. Our results add to the understanding that, using THz light, the JPM (in addition to the Higgs mode) provides a route to interrogate and control superconducting properties.

Two-fluid dynamics in driven YBa2Cu3O6.48

Coherent optical excitation of certain phonon modes in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{6+x}$ has been shown to induce superconducting-like interlayer coherence at temperatures higher than $T_c$. Recent work has associated these phenomena to a parametric excitation and amplification of Josephson plasma polaritons, which are overdamped above $T_c$ but are made coherent by the phonon drive. However, the dissipative response of uncondensed quasiparticles, which do not couple in the same way to the phonon drive, has not been addressed. Here, we investigate both the enhancement of the superfluid density, $\omega\sigma_2(\omega)$, and the dissipative response of quasiparticles, $\sigma_1(\omega)$, by systematically tuning the duration and energy of the mid-infrared pulse while keeping the peak field fixed. We find that the photo-induced superfluid density saturates to the zero-temperature equilibrium value for pulses made longer than the phonon dephasing time, whilst the dissipative component continues to grow with increasing pulse duration. We show that superfluid and dissipation remain uncoupled as long as the drive is on, and identify an optimal regime of pump pulse durations for which the superconducting response is maximum and dissipation is minimized.

Dissipation Mechanisms in Fermionic Josephson Junction.

We characterize numerically the dominant dynamical regimes in a superfluid ultracold fermionic Josephson junction. Beyond the coherent Josephson plasma regime, we discuss the onset and physical mechanism of dissipation due to the superflow exceeding a characteristic speed, and provide clear evidence distinguishing its physical mechanism across the weakly and strongly interacting limits, despite qualitative dynamics of global characteristics being only weakly sensitive to the operating dissipative mechanism. Specifically, dissipation in the strongly interacting regime occurs through the phase-slippage process, caused by the emission and propagation of quantum vortices, and sound waves-similar to the Bose-Einstein condensation limit. Instead, in the weak interaction limit, the main dissipative channel arises through the pair-breaking mechanism.

Engineering ultrastrong coupling between Josephson plasmon polaritons and subwavelength microcavity arrays in silicon/van der Waals layered superconductor heterostructure for terahertz hybrid circuit cavity quantum electrodynamics

The realization of the ultrastrong coupling between Josephson plasma waves (JPWs) and terahertz (THz) photons in the subwavelength microcavity array is of interest for manipulating the THz cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED), ultrahigh-resolution sensing and imaging, and quantum information processing. Here, we describe the engineering of ultrastrong light-matter interactions in a deeply subwavelength microcavity array based on the hybrid silicon and high-temperature superconductor (HTS) ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}\mathrm{Ca}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8+\ensuremath{\delta}}$ (BSCCO) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure. We perform numerical modeling and analytical calculation to describe Josephson THz cQED and the ultrastrong coupling process between THz radiation and the JPWs in Josephson medium which is naturally present in BSCCO vdW. The resonance frequency of microcavities is swept through the Josephson plasma frequency by altering their width. THz reflection demonstrates the anticrossing behavior of ultrastrong coupling with a normalized Rabi frequency (coupling strength) $2{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{\mathrm{R}}/{f}_{\mathrm{c}}=0.29$ for the BSCCO thickness $t=200$ nm, which increases to the value of 0.87 for $t=800$ nm. Furthermore, the thermal behavior of coupling strength shows modulation of Rabi splitting $2{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{\mathrm{R}}$ with temperature. We show that the normalized Rabi splitting $2{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{\mathrm{R}}/{f}_{\mathrm{c}}$ is independent of the temperature in the BSCCO superconducting regime, while a weak coupling can be observed above the superconducting transition temperature. The proposed chip-scale THz photonic integrated circuit with subwavelength microcavity metamaterial array shall guide the effort in the development of power-efficient coherent THz sources, quantum sensors, ultrasensitive detectors, parametric amplifiers and tunable bolometers based on BSCCO HTS quantum material.

Circuit models of simultaneously biased intrinsic Josephson junction stacks for terahertz radiations in high-bias regime

Experiment-based circuit models for Josephson plasma emitters (JPEs) made of cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ single crystals are proposed. Introducing an LCR resonator shunting an RCSJ parallel circuit allows us to reproduce experimental radiation intensity as a function of device voltage. Mismatch in the resonance frequencies of the total device and the LCR part is related to the wide-range tuning of the radiation frequency of JPE. It is found that coupling capacitances for simultaneously biased operations provide significant increases in radiation intensities, which have been reported as synchronized radiation from multiple mesas in the literature.

Terahertz amplifiers based on gain reflectivity in cuprate superconductors

We demonstrate that parametric driving of suitable collective modes in cuprate superconductors results in a reflectivity $R>1$ for frequencies in the low terahertz regime. We propose to exploit this effect for the amplification of coherent terahertz radiation in a laser-like fashion. As an example, we consider the optical driving of Josephson plasma oscillations in a monolayer cuprate at a frequency that is blue-detuned from the Higgs frequency. Analogously, terahertz radiation can be amplified in a bilayer cuprate by driving a phonon resonance at a frequency slightly higher than the upper Josephson plasma frequency. We show this by simulating a driven-dissipative $U(1)$ lattice gauge theory on a three-dimensional lattice, encoding a bilayer structure in the model parameters. We find a parametric amplification of terahertz radiation at zero and nonzero temperature.

Flat and almost flat bands in the quasi-one-dimensional Josephson junction array

The dispersion law for the linear waves in the quasi-one-dimensional array of inductively coupled Josephson junctions (JJs) is derived. The array has a multiladder structure that consists of the finite number of rows (N ⩾ 2) in Y direction and is infinite in X direction. The spectrum of the linear waves (Josephson plasmons) consists of 2N − 1 branches. Among these branches there is an N-fold completely flat degenerate one that coincides with the Josephson plasma frequency. The remaining N − 1 branches have a standard Josephson plasmon dispersion law typical for 1D JJ arrays. Application of the uniform dc bias on the top of each vertical column of junctions lifts the degeneracy and only one flat branch remains unchanged. The rest of the previously flat branches become weakly dispersive. The parameter range where the flatness of these branches is maximal has been discussed.

Josephson-junction-based axion detection through resonant activation

We discuss the resonant activation phenomenon on a Josephson junction due to the coupling of the Josephson system with axions. We show how such an effect can be exploited for axion detection. A nonmonotonic behavior, with a minimum, of the mean switching time from the superconducting to the resistive state versus the ratio of the axion energy and the Josephson plasma energy is found. We demonstrate how variations in switching times make it possible to detect the presence of the axion field. An experimental protocol for observing axions through their coupling with a Josephson system is proposed.

Terahertz phase slips in striped La2−xBaxCuO4

Interlayer transport in high-$T_C$ cuprates is mediated by superconducting tunneling across the CuO$_2$ planes. For this reason, the terahertz frequency optical response is dominated by one or more Josephson plasma resonances and becomes highly nonlinear at fields for which the tunneling supercurrents approach their critical value, $I_C$. These large terahertz nonlinearities are in fact a hallmark of superconducting transport. Surprisingly, however, they have been documented in La$_{2-x}$Ba$_x$CuO$_4$ also above $T_C$ for doping values near $x=1/8$, and interpreted as an indication of superfluidity in the stripe phase. Here, Electric Field Induced Second Harmonic (EFISH) is used to study the dynamics of time-dependent interlayer voltages when La$_{2-x}$Ba$_x$CuO$_4$ is driven with large-amplitude terahertz pulses, in search of other characteristic signatures of Josephson tunnelling in the normal state. We show that this method is sensitive to the voltage anomalies associated with 2$\pi$ Josephson phase slips, which near $x=1/8$ are observed both below and above $T_C$. These results document a new regime of nonlinear transport that shares features of fluctuating stripes and superconducting phase dynamics.

Ballistic SNS sandwich as a Josephson junction

The paper develops the theory of the ballistic SNS sandwich, in which the Josephson effect exists without the proximity effect. The theory takes into account restrictions imposed by the charge conservation law and the incommensurability of the superconducting gap with the Andreev level energy spacing. This resulted in revisions of some conclusions of previous works. In the one-dimensional case the Josephson phase of the ground state of the ballistic SNS sandwich is not necessarily zero but may have any value from 0 to $\pi$. If this value is $\pi$ this is a $\pi$ junction, which was well known before. The suppression of the supercurrent at temperatures on the order or higher than the Andreev level energy spacing, which was predicted in previous investigations, does not take place in the one-dimensional case. At zero temperature the ballistic SNS sandwich of any dimensionality is not a weak link. This leads to unusual properties: the absence of the Josephson plasma mode localized at the normal layer and the Meisner effect with the same London penetration depth in the normal and the superconducting layers.

Non-linear Terahertz driving of plasma waves in layered cuprates

The hallmark of superconductivity is the rigidity of the quantum-mechanical phase of electrons, responsible for superfluid behavior and Meissner effect. The strength of the phase stiffness is set by the Josephson coupling, which is strongly anisotropic in layered cuprates. So far, THz light pulses have been used to achieve non-linear control of the out-of-plane Josephson plasma mode, whose frequency lies in the THz range. However, the high-energy in-plane plasma mode has been considered insensitive to THz pumping. Here, we show that THz driving of both low-frequency and high-frequency plasma waves is possible via a general two-plasmon excitation mechanism. The anisotropy of the Josephson couplings leads to markedly different thermal effects for the out-of-plane and in-plane response, linking in both cases the emergence of non-linear photonics across Tc to the superfluid stiffness. Our results show that THz light pulses represent a preferential knob to selectively drive phase excitations in unconventional superconductors.

Reversible Fluxon Logic With Optimized CNOT Gate Components

Reversible logic gates were previously implemented in superconducting circuits as adiabatic-reversible gates, which are powered with a sufficiently slow clock. In contrast, we are studying ballistic-reversible gates, where fluxons serve to both encode the information and power the gates. No power is applied to the gate apart from the energy of the input fluxons, and the two possible flux polarities represent the bit states. Undamped long Josephson junctions (LJJs), where fluxons move at practically constant speed from inertia, form the input and output channels of the gates. LJJs are connected in the gates by circuit interfaces, which are designed to allow the ballistic scattering from input to output fluxon states, using the temporary excitation of a localized mode. The duration of the resonant scattering determines the operation time of the gate, approximately a few Josephson plasma periods. Due to the coherent conversions between fluxon and localized modes the ballistic gates can be very efficient: in our simulations only a few percent of the fluxon's energy are dissipated in the gate operation. Ballistic-reversible gates can be combined with other, non-ballistic gate circuits to extend the range of gate functionalities. Here we describe how the CNOT can be built as a structure that includes the IDSN (Identity-else-Same-gives-NOT) and Store-and-Launch (SNL) gates. The IDSN is a 2-bit ballistic gate, which we describe and analyze in terms of equivalent 1-bit circuits. The SNL is a clocking gate, that allows the storage of a bit and the clocked launch of a fluxon on a bit-state dependent output path. In the CNOT the SNL gates provide the necessary routing and fluxon synchronization for the input to the IDSN gate.

Dynamical phase diagram of ultracold Josephson junctions

We provide a complete study of the phase diagram characterising the distinct dynamical regimes emerging in a three-dimensional Josephson junction in an ultracold quantum gas. Considering trapped ultracold superfluids separated into two reservoirs by a barrier of variable height and width, we analyse the population imbalance dynamics following a variable initial population mismatch. We demonstrate that as the chemical potential difference is increased, the system transitions from Josephson plasma oscillations to either a dissipative (in the limit of low and narrow barriers) or a self-trapped regime (for large and wider barriers), with a crossover between the dissipative and the self-trapping regimes which we explore and characterize for the first time. This work, which extends beyond the validity of the standard two-mode model, connects the role of the barrier width, vortex rings and associated acoustic emission with different regimes of the superfluid dynamics across the junction, establishing a framework for its experimental observation, which is found to be within current experimental reach.

Higgs time crystal in a high- Tc superconductor

We propose to induce a time crystalline state in a high-$T_c$ superconductor, by optically driving a sum resonance of the Higgs mode and a Josephson plasma mode. The generic cubic process that couples these fundamental excitations converts driving of the sum resonance into simultaneous resonant driving of both modes, resulting in an incommensurate subharmonic motion. We use a numerical implementation of a semi-classical driven-dissipative lattice gauge theory on a three-dimensional layered lattice, which models the geometry of cuprate superconductors, to demonstrate the robustness of this motion against thermal fluctuations. We demonstrate this light-induced time crystalline phase for mono- and bilayer systems and show that this order can be detected for pulsed driving under realistic technological conditions.

Surface Josephson plasma waves in a high-temperature superconductor

Electron density oscillations with acoustic dispersions and sustained at boundaries between different media provide information about surface and interface properties of heterostructures. In ultrathin metallic films these plasmonic excitations are heavily damped. Superconductivity is predicted to reduce dissipation allowing detection of these resonances. Emerging low-loss interface Cooper-pair waves have been studied before, however, the observation of surface-confined Josephson plasmons in highly anisotropic superconductors has remained elusive. Here, we report on generation and coupling to these excitations in an ultrathin single-crystal film of high-temperature superconductor La1.85Sr0.15CuO4. The film becomes brighter than Au below the critical temperature when probed with sub-gap THz photons. We show that the enhanced signal in the superconducting state, which can be visualized with a spatial resolution better than λ/3000, originates from near-field coupling of light to surface Josephson plasmons. Our results open a path towards non-invasive investigation of enhanced superconductivity in artificial multilayers, buried interface states in topological heterostructures, and non-linear phenomena in Josephson devices.