Superconductor-antiferromagnet-superconductor π Josephson junction based on an antiferromagnetic barrier

Lev Bulaevskii, Ronivon Eneias, and Alvaro Ferraz
Phys. Rev. B 95, 104513 – Published 20 March 2017

Abstract

We show theoretically that π Josephson junctions may be constructed by use of antiferromagnetic (AF) metals between superconducting electrodes. We argue that the AF magnetic ordering introduces the energy difference of electrons in a Cooper pair due to the effect of the exchange field varying in space. Such an energy difference is quadratic in the amplitude of exchange field and this is sufficient to change the behavior of a Josephson junction from 0 to π junction if the width of the AF metal is big enough. The advantage of using an AF barrier instead of a ferromagnetic one is that it does not suppress Cooper pairing in superconducting electrodes as much as the ferromagnet barrier does. However, to reach π-junction regime the AF metal should be a clean one with the electron mean free path bigger than the junction width.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 24 October 2016
  • Revised 16 January 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.95.104513

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Lev Bulaevskii1,2,*, Ronivon Eneias1,3, and Alvaro Ferraz1,3

  • 1International Institute of Physics, UFRN, Natal, Brazil
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
  • 3Department of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, UFRN, Natal, Brazil

  • *Corresponding author: fboulaev@bendbroadband.com

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 10 — 1 March 2017

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×