Phase tuning of multiple Andreev reflections of Dirac fermions and the Josephson supercurrent in Al–MoTe2–Al junctions
Abstract
When an electron is incident on a superconductor from a metal, it is reflected as a hole in a process called Andreev reflection. If the metal N is sandwiched between two superconductors S in an SNS junction, multiple Andreev reflections (MARs) occur. We have found that, in SNS junctions with high transparency (τ → 1) based on the Dirac semimetal MoTe2, the MAR features are observed with exceptional resolution. By tuning the phase difference φ between the bracketing Al superconductors, we establish that the MARs coexist with a Josephson supercurrent Is=IA sin φ. As we vary the junction voltage V, the supercurrent amplitude IA varies in step with the MAR order n, revealing a direct relation between them. Two successive Andreev reflections serve to shuttle a Cooper pair across the junction. If the pair is shuttled coherently, it contributes to Is. The experiment measures the fraction of pairs shuttled coherently vs. V. Surprisingly, superconductivity in MoTe2 does not affect the MAR features.
- Authors:
-
- Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Science Foundation (NSF); Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1904403
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0017863; DMR-2011750; GBMF9466; GBMF9064
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 119; Journal Issue: 28; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8424
- Publisher:
- National Academy of Sciences
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; science & technology; superconductivity; topological; Andreev reflection; Josephson; Dirac semimetal
Citation Formats
Zhu, Zheyi, Kim, Stephan, Lei, Shiming, Schoop, Leslie M., Cava, R. J., and Ong, N. P. Phase tuning of multiple Andreev reflections of Dirac fermions and the Josephson supercurrent in Al–MoTe2–Al junctions. United States: N. p., 2022.
Web. doi:10.1073/pnas.2204468119.
Zhu, Zheyi, Kim, Stephan, Lei, Shiming, Schoop, Leslie M., Cava, R. J., & Ong, N. P. Phase tuning of multiple Andreev reflections of Dirac fermions and the Josephson supercurrent in Al–MoTe2–Al junctions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2204468119
Zhu, Zheyi, Kim, Stephan, Lei, Shiming, Schoop, Leslie M., Cava, R. J., and Ong, N. P. Fri .
"Phase tuning of multiple Andreev reflections of Dirac fermions and the Josephson supercurrent in Al–MoTe2–Al junctions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2204468119. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1904403.
@article{osti_1904403,
title = {Phase tuning of multiple Andreev reflections of Dirac fermions and the Josephson supercurrent in Al–MoTe2–Al junctions},
author = {Zhu, Zheyi and Kim, Stephan and Lei, Shiming and Schoop, Leslie M. and Cava, R. J. and Ong, N. P.},
abstractNote = {When an electron is incident on a superconductor from a metal, it is reflected as a hole in a process called Andreev reflection. If the metal N is sandwiched between two superconductors S in an SNS junction, multiple Andreev reflections (MARs) occur. We have found that, in SNS junctions with high transparency (τ → 1) based on the Dirac semimetal MoTe2, the MAR features are observed with exceptional resolution. By tuning the phase difference φ between the bracketing Al superconductors, we establish that the MARs coexist with a Josephson supercurrent Is=IA sin φ. As we vary the junction voltage V, the supercurrent amplitude IA varies in step with the MAR order n, revealing a direct relation between them. Two successive Andreev reflections serve to shuttle a Cooper pair across the junction. If the pair is shuttled coherently, it contributes to Is. The experiment measures the fraction of pairs shuttled coherently vs. V. Surprisingly, superconductivity in MoTe2 does not affect the MAR features.},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2204468119},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
number = 28,
volume = 119,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 EDT 2022},
month = {Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 EDT 2022}
}
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