2009/08/20 by P. M. R. Brydon, Christian Iniotakis, Dirk Manske +2
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Condensed matter physics #Cooper pair #Ginzburg–Landau theory #Instability #Josephson effect #Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials #Magnetic field #Magnetic flux #Pairing #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Pi Josephson junction #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum mechanics #Quantum tunnelling #Superconductivity #Symmetry (geometry) #Symmetry breaking #T-symmetry #cond-mat.mes-hall #cond-mat.supr-con
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.104.197001
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 197001 (2010) · 4 pages, 5 figures, RevTeX
arxiv created 2009/08/20 · openalex publication_date 2010/05/10 · arxiv updated 2010/07/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The breaking of time-reversal symmetry in a triplet superconductor Josephson junction is shown to cause a magnetic instability of the tunneling barrier. Using a Ginzburg-Landau analysis of the free energy, we predict that this novel functional behavior reflects the formation of an exotic Josephson state, distinguished by the existence of fractional flux quanta at the barrier. The crucial role of the orbital pairing state is demonstrated by studying complementary microscopic models of the junction. Signatures of the magnetic instability are found in the critical current of the junction.