61 research outputs found
Experimental realization of a relativistic fluxon ratchet
We report the observation of the ratchet effect for a relativistic flux
quantum trapped in an annular Josephson junction embedded in an inhomogeneous
magnetic field. In such a solid state system mechanical quantities are
proportional to electrical quantities, so that the ratchet effect represents
the realization of a relativistic-flux-quantum-based diode. Mean static voltage
response, equivalent to directed fluxon motion, is experimentally demonstrated
in such a diode for deterministic current forcing both in the overdamped and in
the underdamped dynamical regime. In the underdamped regime, the recently
predicted phenomenon of current reversal is also recovered in our fluxon
ratchet.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures. To appear in PHYSICA
Proximity effect in planar superconducting tunnel junctions containing Nb/NiCu superconductor/ferromagnet bilayers
We present experimental results concerning both the fabrication and characterization of superconducting tunnel junctions containing superconductor/ferromagnet (S/F) bilayers made by niobium (S) and a weak ferromagnetic Ni0.50Cu0.50 alloy. Josephson junctions have been characterized down to T=1.4 K in terms of current-voltage I-V characteristics and Josephson critical current versus magnetic field. By means of a numerical deconvolution of the I-V data the electronic density of states on both sides of the S/F bilayer has been evaluated at low temperatures. Results have been compared with theoretical predictions from a proximity model for S/F bilayers in the dirty limit in the framework of Usadel equations for the S and F layers, respectively. The main physical parameters characterizing the proximity effect in the Nb/NiCu bilayer, such as the coherence length and the exchange field energy of the F metal, and the S/F interface parameters have been also estimated
Linear and nonlinear excitations in two stacks of parallel arrays of long Josephson junctions
Preparation and read-out of a Josephson vortex in a double-well potential
We report on the escape of a Josephson vortex from a magnetic-field induced double-well potential. A characterization in the thermal (or classic) regime is presented here, with attention to the preparation and readout of the vortex state
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