Experiments on spontaneous vortex formation in Josephson tunnel junctions

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.74.144513· OSTI ID:20853760

Monaco, R; Aaroe, M; Mygind, J; Rivers, R J; Koshelets, V P ^[1]

---

1. Istituto di Cibernetica del CNR, 80078, Pozzuoli (Italy) and Unita INFM-Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Salerno, 84081 Baronissi (Italy)

It has been argued by Zurek and Kibble that the likelihood of producing defects in a continuous phase transition depends in a characteristic way on the quench rate. In this paper we discuss an improved experiment for measuring the scaling exponent {sigma} for the production of single fluxons in annular symmetric Josephson tunnel junctions. We find {sigma}{approx_equal}0.5 and show how this can arise from the Kibble-Zurek scenario. Further, we report accurate measurements of the temperature dependence of the junction gap voltage, which allow for precise monitoring of the fast temperature variations during the quench.

• OSTI ID: 20853760
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 74, Issue 14; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.74.144513; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
JOSEPHSON EFFECT
MAGNETIC FLUX
MIXED STATE
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
QUASI PARTICLES
QUENCHING
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TUNNEL EFFECT
VARIATIONS
VORTICES