Universal Josephson diode effect

ORAL

Abstract

We propose a universal mechanism for the Josephson diode effect in short Josephson junctions. The proposed mechanism is due to finite Cooper pair momentum and is a manifestation of simultaneous breaking of inversion and time-reversal symmetries. The diode efficiency is up to 40%, which corresponds to an asymmetry between the critical currents in opposite directions Ic+/Ic− ≈ 230%. We show that this arises from both the Doppler shift of the Andreev bound state energies and the phase-independent asymmetric current from the continuum. Last, we propose a simple scheme for achieving finite-momentum pairing, which does not rely on spin-orbit coupling and thus greatly expands existing platforms for the observation of supercurrent diode effects.

*This work was supported by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and the U.S. Army Research Office through the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, under Collaborative Agreement Number W911NF-18-2-0048. L.F. was partly supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

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Publication: Davydova, M., Prembabu, S. and Fu, L., 2022. Universal Josephson diode effect. Science advances, 8(23), p.eabo0309.

Presenters

  • Liang Fu

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Authors

  • Margarita Davydova

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

  • Saranesh Prembabu

    • Harvard University

  • Liang Fu

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology