Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Applied Physics Letters

Dynamic behavior of optically induced superconducting weak links

C. Vanneste, Alain Gilabert, P. Sibillot, Daniel B. Ostrowsky

Published Jun 1, 1981• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report experimental measurement of the dynamic response of optically induced superconducting weak links modulated at up to 1 GHz. Increasing the optical modulation depth from 7 to 70% as the frequency varies from low frequency to 30 MHz extinguishes the ac Josephson effect which is consistent with a calculated thermal response time of 150×10−9 sec.

DOI
10.1063/1.92190

Related papers

Optical Josephson effects using phase-conjugating mirrors: an analogy with superconductors

M. Blaauboer, Daan Lenstra, A. Lodder

Motivated by the analogy between a phase-conjugating mirror (PCM) and a superconductor, we search for optical counterparts of the well-known DC and AC Josephson effects. We show that in a system consisting of two PCM`s separated by vacuum an ,,optical supercurrent`` arises as a function of an applied phase difference between the PCM`s, which is the optical analogue of the DC supercurrent flowing in a superconducting weak link. The corresponding AC effect occurs when the two PCM`s are pumped by light of a different frequency, causing the phase difference to oscillate in time with the frequency difference.

Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology•Jun 30, 2000•1 citation

Frequency Pulling and Mixing of Relaxation Oscillations in Superconducting Nanowires

Emily Toomey, Qingyuan Zhao, Adam N. McCaughan +1 more

The electromagnetic response of a superconducting nanowire exhibits relaxation oscillations, due to strong electrothermal nonlinearity. Resultant technology has been limited, though, by a lack of understanding of how the nonlinear behavior can be externally modulated. This study of electrothermal oscillations in superconducting nanowires uses microwave modulation to show that the oscillations mix with an external microwave drive, and lock to its frequency. This interaction is reminiscent of the ac Josephson effect, despite its thermal origin. Nanowire devices based on these phenomena could see use in microwave applications like frequency mixing and parametric amplification.

arXiv:1709.06598•Physical Review Applied•Jun 14, 2018•24 citations

Microwave induced nonlinearity in low frequency biased YBCO superconducting weak link rings (abstract)

Yue Feng Huang, A. Widom, C. Vittoria

We fabricated weak link rings using YBCO thin films deposited on the single crystal MgO substrate by laser ablation. The dimensions of the microbridges in the rings were between 0.5–1 μ in length and 500 Å–0.5 μ in width which were made by focused ion beam milling. We biased the ring by Faraday induction voltage while monitoring the voltage across the microbridge. The frequency of the input signal was varied between 10 kHz and 5 MHz. When we superimposed a microwave signal (2–18 GHz) to the ring, below the superconducting transition temperature (Tc), we observed strong nonlinearities in the voltage measured across the microbridge. The microwave frequency was chosen to be close to the ring natural electromagnetic resonance.

Journal of Applied Physics•May 15, 1993•1 citation

Superconducting weak links induced by optical guided waves

Alain Gilabert, Daniel B. Ostrowsky, C. Vanneste +2 more

Superconducting weak links have been created by locally weakening the superconductivity of a narrow thin-film lead strip via the evanescent field of an optical guided wave. Existence of the Josephson junction behavior of these links was confirmed by examination of their behavior in applied magnetic fields.

Applied Physics Letters•Nov 1, 1977•13 citations

Josephson effects in an alternating current biased transition edge sensor

Luciano G. Gottardi, Alexander G. Kozorezov, Hiroki Akamatsu +10 more

We report the experimental evidence of the ac Josephson effect in a transition edge sensor (TES) operating in a frequency domain multiplexer and biased by ac voltage at MHz frequencies. The effect is observed by measuring the non-linear impedance of the sensor. The TES is treated as a weakly linked superconducting system and within the resistively shunted junction model framework. We provide a full theoretical explanation of the results by finding the analytic solution of the non-inertial Langevian equation of the system and calculating the non-linear response of the detector to a large ac bias current in the presence of noise.

arXiv:1604.00549•Applied Physics Letters•Oct 20, 2014•32 citations

Microwave impedance measurements of point-contact Josephson weak links

P. F. Michelson, R. P. Giffard

We describe measurements of the 10 GHz dynamic impedance of niobium point-contact weak links at 2 K, biased below their critical currents. The measured quantity is Γ(ω), the complex reflection coefficient Of the weak link in parallel with a superconducting cavity resonator terminating a waveguide. Measurements were made at several frequencies close to resonance. In order to interpret the results it is only necessary to assume that the weak link is a two-terminal device consisting of a phase-dependent susceptance in parallel with a phase-dependent conductivity, which is connected to the waveguide through a lossless, phase-independent two-port. The data are consistent with the resistively shunted junction model including a phase-dependent conductance with a negative sign. An important feature of this study was the ability to measure the d.c. IV characteristic simultaneously. The point-contacts investigated had nearly ideal IcR products, and exhibited reproducibile structure in the differential conductance at the superconducting energy gap voltage.

IEEE Transactions on Magnetics•Jan 1, 1981•0 citations
We report experimental measurement of the dynamic response of optically induced superconducting weak links modulated at up to 1 GHz. Increasing the optical modulation depth from 7 to 70% as the frequency varies from low frequency to 30 MHz extinguishes the ac Josephson effect which is consistent with a calculated thermal response time of 150×10−9 sec.
Motivated by the analogy between a phase-conjugating mirror (PCM) and a superconductor, we search for optical counterparts of the well-known DC and AC Josephson effects. We show that in a system consisting of two PCM`s separated by vacuum an ,,optical supercurrent`` arises as a function of an applied phase difference between the PCM`s, which is the optical analogue of the DC supercurrent flowing in a superconducting weak link. The corresponding AC effect occurs when the two PCM`s are pumped by light of a different frequency, causing the phase difference to oscillate in time with the frequency difference.
The electromagnetic response of a superconducting nanowire exhibits relaxation oscillations, due to strong electrothermal nonlinearity. Resultant technology has been limited, though, by a lack of understanding of how the nonlinear behavior can be externally modulated. This study of electrothermal oscillations in superconducting nanowires uses microwave modulation to show that the oscillations mix with an external microwave drive, and lock to its frequency. This interaction is reminiscent of the ac Josephson effect, despite its thermal origin. Nanowire devices based on these phenomena could see use in microwave applications like frequency mixing and parametric amplification.
We fabricated weak link rings using YBCO thin films deposited on the single crystal MgO substrate by laser ablation. The dimensions of the microbridges in the rings were between 0.5–1 μ in length and 500 Å–0.5 μ in width which were made by focused ion beam milling. We biased the ring by Faraday induction voltage while monitoring the voltage across the microbridge. The frequency of the input signal was varied between 10 kHz and 5 MHz. When we superimposed a microwave signal (2–18 GHz) to the ring, below the superconducting transition temperature (Tc), we observed strong nonlinearities in the voltage measured across the microbridge. The microwave frequency was chosen to be close to the ring natural electromagnetic resonance.
We report the experimental evidence of the ac Josephson effect in a transition edge sensor (TES) operating in a frequency domain multiplexer and biased by ac voltage at MHz frequencies. The effect is observed by measuring the non-linear impedance of the sensor. The TES is treated as a weakly linked superconducting system and within the resistively shunted junction model framework. We provide a full theoretical explanation of the results by finding the analytic solution of the non-inertial Langevian equation of the system and calculating the non-linear response of the detector to a large ac bias current in the presence of noise.
We describe measurements of the 10 GHz dynamic impedance of niobium point-contact weak links at 2 K, biased below their critical currents. The measured quantity is Γ(ω), the complex reflection coefficient Of the weak link in parallel with a superconducting cavity resonator terminating a waveguide. Measurements were made at several frequencies close to resonance. In order to interpret the results it is only necessary to assume that the weak link is a two-terminal device consisting of a phase-dependent susceptance in parallel with a phase-dependent conductivity, which is connected to the waveguide through a lossless, phase-independent two-port. The data are consistent with the resistively shunted junction model including a phase-dependent conductance with a negative sign. An important feature of this study was the ability to measure the d.c. IV characteristic simultaneously. The point-contacts investigated had nearly ideal IcR products, and exhibited reproducibile structure in the differential conductance at the superconducting energy gap voltage.