2007/07/31 by Fuechsle, M., Bentner, J., Ryndyk, D. A. +3
#FOS: Physical sciences #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0707.4512
We investigate the current-phase-relation (CPR) of long diffusive superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) Josephson junctions in thermodynamic equilibrium and under microwave irradiation. While in equilibrium good agreement with the predictions of quasi-classical theory is found, we observe that the shape of the CPR can be strongly affected by microwave irradiation. Close to a Josephson-phase difference of pi, the supercurrent can be strongly suppressed when increasing the rf-power. Our results can be understood in terms of microwave excitation of low-lying Andreev bound states across the mini-gap in the junction. In the frequency interval studied, this mechanism becomes important when the mini-gap closes at a phase difference of pi.