Effect of current direction on the dynamics of Josephson-junction arrays

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.45.3003· OSTI ID:7047207

Sohn, L L; Rzchowski, M S; Free, J U; Tinkham, M ^[1]; Lobb, C J ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States)
2. Center for Superconductivity Research, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 (United States)

We present an extensive experimental and theoretical study of the effect that the current direction has on the dynamical properties of rf and dc current-biased overdamped Josephson-junction arrays. We show that a strong {ital spatial} {ital symmetry} of the array about the direction of the macroscopic current flow is necessary for arrays to show {ital only} nteger giant Shapiro steps. If this symmetry is broken, arrays will produce {ital both} fractional {ital and} integer giant Shapiro steps. A moving-vortex model and a pendulum model are used to describe our experimental and computational results.

• OSTI ID: 7047207
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 45:6; ISSN PRBMD; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665411* -- Basic Superconductivity Studies-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
FLUX QUANTIZATION
JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
JUNCTIONS
PROXIMITY EFFECT
SIMULATION
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
SYMMETRY BREAKING