Control of Andreev-level occupation in a Josephson junction by a normal-metal probe
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 (United States)
We calculate the electrical current flowing through a mesoscopic superconductor{endash}normal-metal{endash}superconductor (SNS) junction coupled to a normal-metal probe. This additional normal terminal models either a scanning tunneling microscope probe or the gate electrode of a three-terminal SNS junction. We find the Josephson current switches between two different values as the probe voltage V is varied. This switching occurs because the Andreev energy levels are populated with an effective electrochemical potential eV. When the probe voltage {vert_bar}eV{vert_bar}{gt}{Delta}, so that all of the Andreev levels are either filled or emptied, we show it is possible to directly measure the {open_quotes}continuum{close_quotes} contribution to the Josephson current. The differential conductance dI/dV at the normal probe can also be used to detect the density of Andreev levels. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
- OSTI ID:
- 496769
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 55; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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