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Time-reversal symmetry breaking superconductivity between twisted cuprate superconductors

Journal Article · · Science
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [7];  [4];  [7];  [8];  [9];  [1]
  1. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States)
  2. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States); Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ (United States); University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)
  3. Sogang University, Seoul (Korea)
  4. Seoul National University (Korea)
  5. Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
  6. Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  7. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
  8. Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ (United States)
  9. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States); Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden) (Germany)

Twisted interfaces between stacked van der Waals (vdW) cuprate crystals present a platform for engineering superconducting order parameters by adjusting stacking angles. Using a cryogenic assembly technique, we construct twisted vdW Josephson junctions (JJs) at atomically sharp interfaces between Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x crystals, with quality approaching the limit set by intrinsic JJs. Near 45° twist angle, we observe fractional Shapiro steps and Fraunhofer patterns, consistent with the existence of two degenerate Josephson ground states related by time-reversal symmetry (TRS). By programming the JJ current bias sequence, we controllably break TRS to place the JJ into either of the two ground states, realizing reversible Josephson diodes without external magnetic fields. Furthermore, our results open a path to engineering topological devices at higher temperatures.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); National Science Foundation (NSF); U.S. Department of Defense; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
2203268
Report Number(s):
BNL--224914-2023-JAAM
Journal Information:
Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 6677 Vol. 382; ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher:
AAASCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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