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

Nature Communications

Josephson emission with frequency span 1–11 THz from small Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ mesa structures

E. A. Borodianskyi, V. M. Krasnov

Published Nov 17, 2017• 80 citations
Publisher

Abstract

high-temperature superconductor represent stacks of atomic scale intrinsic Josephson junctions. They can be used for generation of high-frequency electromagnetic waves. Here we analyze Josephson emission from small-but-high mesas (with a small area, but containing many stacked junctions). We have found strong evidence for tunable terahertz emission with a good efficacy in a record high-frequency span 1-11 THz, approaching the theoretical upper limit for this superconductor. Emission maxima correspond to in-phase cavity modes in the mesas, indicating coherent superradiant nature of the emission. We conclude that terahertz emission requires a threshold number of junctions N ~ 100. The threshold behavior is not present in the classical description of stacked Josephson junctions and suggests importance of laser-like cascade amplification of the photon number in the cavity.

DOI
10.1038/s41467-017-01888-4

Related papers

Coherent emission from the intrinsic Josephson junctions in thermally-managed, high-symmetry Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ devices

Richard A. Klemm, Daniel Cerkoney, Constance M. Doty +14 more

The emission of coherent radiation from the intrinsic Josephson junctions in the high transition temperature Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi2212) arises from two sources: (1) the uniform part of the ac Josephson current satisfying the Josephson relation f = fJ = 2ev/h, where e is the electronic charge, v is the applied voltage per junction, and h is Planck's constant, and (2) when f = fc (n,m) matches that of the (n,m) the electromagnetic geometrical cavity mode of the thin device, the emission power can be greatly enhanced [1]. For conventional devices such as mesas carved from the top of a Bi2212 single crystal [2,4], the Bi2212 substrate not only absorbs much of the emission nearly parallel to the substrate [1], but its poor thermal conductivity leads to Joule heating,f < 1THz, and the inevitable formation of hot spots, inside of which the local temperature T(r) > Tc [5]. However, “thermally-managedstand-alone” devices constructed by removing the mesa from its Bi2212 substrate, covering its top and bottom surfaces with Au and sandwiching it between sapphire plates [3,6], narrow-linewidth emission at the world-record 2.4 THz from a superconductor was observed [7], placing a lower limit of ∆min ≥ 9.8meV on the bulk Bi2212 gap function, and filling the “THz gap” with a tunable, continuous-wave emitter. Moreover, the emission spectra from that high-symmetry disk [7] and unpublished high-symmetry square devices strongly suggest that only cavity modes obtained from wave functions that are one-dimensional representations of the appropriate point group can lead to electromagnetic cavity mode enhancements [3,7-9]. A theoretical explanation of this previously unknown restriction is presented. [1] R.A.Klemm and K.Kadowaki, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22, 375701 (2010). [2] M. Tsujimoto et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 037005 (2010). [3] M. Tsujimoto et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 107006 (2012). [4] K. Delfanazari et al., Opt. Express 21, 2171 (2013). [5] H. Minami et al., Phys. Rev. B 89, 054503 (2014). [6] T. Kashiwagi et al., Phys. Rev. Applied 4, 054018 (2015). [7] T. Kashiwagi et al., Appl. Phys. Lett.107, 082601 (2015). [8] D. P. Cerkoney et al., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 29, 015601 (2017). [9] R. A. Klemm, A. E. Davis, and Q. X. Wang, IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quant. Electron.(2017, inpress) DOI 10.1109/JSTQE.2017.2649459

ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam)•May 1, 2017•0 citations

Coherent THz-wave emission from voltage-and number-controlled intrinsic Josephson junctions in Bi-2212

Manabu Tsujimoto, Ryo Nakayama, Naoki Orita +7 more

Intense and coherent terahertz electromagnetic wave (THz-wave) emission from the intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) in single crystalline high-Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi-2212) was reported in 2007 [L. Ozyuzer \\textit{et al}., Science \\textbf{318}, (2007) 1291.]. In the present work, we demonstrate the relationship between the bias condition and the resonance state by controlling both the applied voltage, V, and the number of resistive junctions, N. We directly observed that if N junctions are in resistive state, the resonance frequency, fJ, varies in accordance with the ac-Josephson relation; fJ = (2|e|/h)V/N, although frequency fJ has previously been thought to be uniquely determined by the geometrical condition due to the cavity resonance effect [M. Tsujimoto \\textit{et al}., Phys. Rev. Lett. \\textbf{105}, (2010) 037005.]. We also found that the emission intensity varies as a function of both fJ and N. *CREST-JST, WPI-MANA, Strategic Initiative A (University of Tsukuba)

ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam)•Mar 21, 2011•0 citations

Mutual Synchronization of Terahertz Emissions from Multiple Intrinsic Josephson Junction Mesas

Ken Hayama, Shuma Fujita, Yuya Kuriyama +3 more

We present a direct proof of synchronized macroscopic Josephson oscillations excited in two intrinsic Josephson junction stacks formed on a Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δsingle crystal. The strong coupling between the Josephson oscillations in the two mesas via the base crystal is detected by polarization analysis of emitted terahertz waves from individually biased mesas and simultaneously biased mesas.

International Conference on UK-China Emerging Technologies (UCET)•Aug 1, 2020•0 citations

Study of the radiation line width and shape from the Bi2212 mesa structure

Takanari Kashiwagi, Takashi Yamamoto, Kazuya Ishida +8 more

Continuous electromagnetic waves in terahertz (THz) range have been observed from mesa structures of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ(Bi2212) single crystals^1) It has been established that the radiation frequency is determined by both the ac Josephson frequency and the resonance condition of the geometrical cavity^2). In order to understand the mechanism of the radiation from the intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) in Bi2212, we studied the radiation line width and shape. These might depend upon the physical parameters of the Bi2212 single crystal such as the number of IJJs the fluctuations of the quasiparticles and pairs, the non-linearity and non-equilibrium conditions, and the stability of the electrical circuit including the IJJs. However, technical difficulties have been delayed the line width measurements in the THz range. Recently, we succeeded in measuring the radiation line width using a frequency mixer. These results will be compared to those from a single junction 1) L. Ozyuzer et al., Science 318 (2007) 1291., 2) K. Kadowaki et al., J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 79 (2010) 023703

ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam)•Mar 1, 2012•0 citations

Response and amplification of terahertz electromagnetic waves in intrinsic Josephson junctions of layered high- Tc superconductor

Shi‐Zeng Lin, Xiao Hu

We investigate the response of a stack of intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) to terahertz (THz) electromagnetic (EM) irradiation. A significant amplification of the EM wave can be achieved by the IJJs stack when the incident frequency equals to one of the cavity frequencies. The irradiation excites $\ensuremath{\pi}$-phase kinks in the junctions, which stimulate the cavity resonance when the bias voltage is tuned. A large amount of dc energy is then pumped into the Josephson plasma oscillation and the incident wave gets amplified. From the profound current step in $IV$ characteristics induced at the cavity resonance, the system can also be used for detection of the THz wave.

arXiv:1001.5119•Physical Review B•Jul 12, 2010•16 citations

A Tunable 350–780 GHz CW solid state oscillator of intrinsic Josephson junctions in a high-Tc superconductor

Huabing Wang, M. Y. Li, Jie Yuan +10 more

We report on THz emission measurements and low temperature scanning laser imaging of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8intrinsic Josephson junction stacks. Coherent emission is observed at large dc input power, where a hot spot and a standing wave, formed in the “cold” part of the stack, coexist. By changing bias current and bath temperature the emission frequency can be varied over a wide range of 350–780 GHz; the variation matches the well-known Josephson-frequency relation. The linewidth of radiation, recently measured with an integrated superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) receiver, is as narrow as 6 MHz, much smaller than expected from a purely cavity-induced synchronization. Thus, an additional mechanism seems to play a role. Some scenarios, related to the presence of the hot spot, are discussed.

International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz)•Sep 1, 2012•0 citations
high-temperature superconductor represent stacks of atomic scale intrinsic Josephson junctions. They can be used for generation of high-frequency electromagnetic waves. Here we analyze Josephson emission from small-but-high mesas (with a small area, but containing many stacked junctions). We have found strong evidence for tunable terahertz emission with a good efficacy in a record high-frequency span 1-11 THz, approaching the theoretical upper limit for this superconductor. Emission maxima correspond to in-phase cavity modes in the mesas, indicating coherent superradiant nature of the emission. We conclude that terahertz emission requires a threshold number of junctions N ~ 100. The threshold behavior is not present in the classical description of stacked Josephson junctions and suggests importance of laser-like cascade amplification of the photon number in the cavity.
The emission of coherent radiation from the intrinsic Josephson junctions in the high transition temperature Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi2212) arises from two sources: (1) the uniform part of the ac Josephson current satisfying the Josephson relation f = fJ = 2ev/h, where e is the electronic charge, v is the applied voltage per junction, and h is Planck's constant, and (2) when f = fc (n,m) matches that of the (n,m) the electromagnetic geometrical cavity mode of the thin device, the emission power can be greatly enhanced [1]. For conventional devices such as mesas carved from the top of a Bi2212 single crystal [2,4], the Bi2212 substrate not only absorbs much of the emission nearly parallel to the substrate [1], but its poor thermal conductivity leads to Joule heating,f < 1THz, and the inevitable formation of hot spots, inside of which the local temperature T(r) > Tc [5]. However, “thermally-managedstand-alone” devices constructed by removing the mesa from its Bi2212 substrate, covering its top and bottom surfaces with Au and sandwiching it between sapphire plates [3,6], narrow-linewidth emission at the world-record 2.4 THz from a superconductor was observed [7], placing a lower limit of ∆min ≥ 9.8meV on the bulk Bi2212 gap function, and filling the “THz gap” with a tunable, continuous-wave emitter. Moreover, the emission spectra from that high-symmetry disk [7] and unpublished high-symmetry square devices strongly suggest that only cavity modes obtained from wave functions that are one-dimensional representations of the appropriate point group can lead to electromagnetic cavity mode enhancements [3,7-9]. A theoretical explanation of this previously unknown restriction is presented. [1] R.A.Klemm and K.Kadowaki, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22, 375701 (2010). [2] M. Tsujimoto et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 037005 (2010). [3] M. Tsujimoto et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 107006 (2012). [4] K. Delfanazari et al., Opt. Express 21, 2171 (2013). [5] H. Minami et al., Phys. Rev. B 89, 054503 (2014). [6] T. Kashiwagi et al., Phys. Rev. Applied 4, 054018 (2015). [7] T. Kashiwagi et al., Appl. Phys. Lett.107, 082601 (2015). [8] D. P. Cerkoney et al., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 29, 015601 (2017). [9] R. A. Klemm, A. E. Davis, and Q. X. Wang, IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quant. Electron.(2017, inpress) DOI 10.1109/JSTQE.2017.2649459
Intense and coherent terahertz electromagnetic wave (THz-wave) emission from the intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) in single crystalline high-Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi-2212) was reported in 2007 [L. Ozyuzer \\textit{et al}., Science \\textbf{318}, (2007) 1291.]. In the present work, we demonstrate the relationship between the bias condition and the resonance state by controlling both the applied voltage, V, and the number of resistive junctions, N. We directly observed that if N junctions are in resistive state, the resonance frequency, fJ, varies in accordance with the ac-Josephson relation; fJ = (2|e|/h)V/N, although frequency fJ has previously been thought to be uniquely determined by the geometrical condition due to the cavity resonance effect [M. Tsujimoto \\textit{et al}., Phys. Rev. Lett. \\textbf{105}, (2010) 037005.]. We also found that the emission intensity varies as a function of both fJ and N. *CREST-JST, WPI-MANA, Strategic Initiative A (University of Tsukuba)
Continuous electromagnetic waves in terahertz (THz) range have been observed from mesa structures of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ(Bi2212) single crystals^1) It has been established that the radiation frequency is determined by both the ac Josephson frequency and the resonance condition of the geometrical cavity^2). In order to understand the mechanism of the radiation from the intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) in Bi2212, we studied the radiation line width and shape. These might depend upon the physical parameters of the Bi2212 single crystal such as the number of IJJs the fluctuations of the quasiparticles and pairs, the non-linearity and non-equilibrium conditions, and the stability of the electrical circuit including the IJJs. However, technical difficulties have been delayed the line width measurements in the THz range. Recently, we succeeded in measuring the radiation line width using a frequency mixer. These results will be compared to those from a single junction 1) L. Ozyuzer et al., Science 318 (2007) 1291., 2) K. Kadowaki et al., J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 79 (2010) 023703
We investigate the response of a stack of intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) to terahertz (THz) electromagnetic (EM) irradiation. A significant amplification of the EM wave can be achieved by the IJJs stack when the incident frequency equals to one of the cavity frequencies. The irradiation excites $\ensuremath{\pi}$-phase kinks in the junctions, which stimulate the cavity resonance when the bias voltage is tuned. A large amount of dc energy is then pumped into the Josephson plasma oscillation and the incident wave gets amplified. From the profound current step in IVIVIV characteristics induced at the cavity resonance, the system can also be used for detection of the THz wave.
We report on THz emission measurements and low temperature scanning laser imaging of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8intrinsic Josephson junction stacks. Coherent emission is observed at large dc input power, where a hot spot and a standing wave, formed in the “cold” part of the stack, coexist. By changing bias current and bath temperature the emission frequency can be varied over a wide range of 350–780 GHz; the variation matches the well-known Josephson-frequency relation. The linewidth of radiation, recently measured with an integrated superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) receiver, is as narrow as 6 MHz, much smaller than expected from a purely cavity-induced synchronization. Thus, an additional mechanism seems to play a role. Some scenarios, related to the presence of the hot spot, are discussed.