Coexisting multiple dynamic states generated by magnetic field in Bi-2212 stacked Josephson junctions

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex dynamic behavior of Josephson vortices in stacked Bi-2212 junctions, revealing coexistence of multiple states and their impact on current-voltage characteristics.

Contribution

It identifies and explains the coexistence of static, moving, and incoherent states of Josephson vortices, and how these produce rich hysteretic structures in the I-V curves.

Findings

Multiple vortex-flow branches arise from individual vortex depinning.

Hysteretic I-V structures result from combinatorial states across junctions.

Different states evolve separately with magnetic field and bias current.

Abstract

Josephson vortices in naturally stacked Bi-2212 tunneling junctions display rich dynamic behavior that derives from the coexistence of three basic states: static Josephson vortex lattice, coherently moving lattice, and incoherent quasiparticle tunneling state. Rich structure of hysteretic branches observed in the current-voltage characteristics can be understood as combinatorial combinations of these three states which are realized in different junctions and evolve separately with magnetic field and bias current. In particular, the multiple Josephson-vortex-flow branches at low bias currents arise from the individual depinning of Josephson vortex rows in each junction.