Current--phase relation in a topological Josephson junction: Andreev bands vs. scattering states

TL;DR

This paper investigates the current-phase relation in a topological Josephson junction on a 3D topological insulator surface, emphasizing the importance of both scattering states and Andreev bound states for accurate modeling.

Contribution

It demonstrates the necessity of considering both scattering modes and Andreev bands to accurately describe the Josephson current in topological junctions.

Findings

Both scattering states and Andreev bound states significantly influence the current.

The current-phase relation deviates from sinusoidal depending on junction thickness.

The analysis provides insights into the interplay between different contributions to the Josephson current.

Abstract

We consider a long topological Josephson junction formed on a conducting 2D surface of a 3D topological insulator (TI). The superconducting correlations are proximity-induced by s-wave superconductors covering the surface. The 1D spacing between the coverings is either unfilled or filled by a magnetic insulator. Generally, the Josephson current mediated by the TI surface is determined by scattering modes as well as by the states localized around the junction (Andreev bound states or Andreev bands). We find out that it is crucial to take into account both contributions to determine the current--phase relation of the topological Josephson junction. We analyze the dependence of the Josephson current on the thickness of the junction as well as the deviations from the sinusoidal shape of the current--phase relation.