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The a.c. Josephson effect without superconductivity

Author

Listed:
  • Benoit Gaury

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, INAC-SPSMS
    CEA, INAC-SPSMS)

  • Joseph Weston

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, INAC-SPSMS
    CEA, INAC-SPSMS)

  • Xavier Waintal

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, INAC-SPSMS
    CEA, INAC-SPSMS)

Abstract

Superconductivity derives its most salient features from the coherence of the associated macroscopic wave function. The related physical phenomena have now moved from exotic subjects to fundamental building blocks for quantum circuits such as qubits or single photonic modes. Here we predict that the a.c. Josephson effect—which transforms a d.c. voltage Vb into an oscillating signal cos (2eVbt/ħ)—has a mesoscopic counterpart in normal conductors. We show that when a d.c. voltage Vb is applied to an electronic interferometer, there exists a universal transient regime where the current oscillates at frequency eVb/h. This effect is not limited by a superconducting gap and could, in principle, be used to produce tunable a.c. signals in the elusive 0.1–10-THz ‘terahertz gap’.

Suggested Citation

  • Benoit Gaury & Joseph Weston & Xavier Waintal, 2015. "The a.c. Josephson effect without superconductivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-5, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7524
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7524
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