dc Josephson Effect in Altermagnets

TL;DR

This paper explores the Josephson effect in altermagnets, revealing unique oscillation behaviors and orientation-dependent properties that distinguish them from ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, with implications for spintronics.

Contribution

It introduces the Josephson effect in altermagnets, a class of magnetic materials with no net magnetization, and analyzes their unique supercurrent properties and orientation dependence.

Findings

Altermagnets induce 0-π oscillations in Josephson junctions.

Decay length and oscillation period depend on crystallographic orientation.

Josephson effect can distinguish altermagnetism from other magnetic orders.

Abstract

The ability of magnetic materials to modify superconducting systems is an active research area for possible applications in thermoelectricity, quantum sensing, and spintronics. We consider the fundamental properties of the Josephson effect in a third class of magnetic materials beyond ferromagnets and antiferromagnets: altermagnets. We show that despite having no net magnetization, altermagnets induce $0$-$\pi$ oscillations. The decay length and oscillation period of the Josephson coupling are qualitatively different from ferromagnetic junctions and depend on the crystallographic orientation of the altermagnet. The Josephson effect in altermagnets thus serves a dual purpose: it acts as a signature that distinguishes altermagnetism from conventional (anti)ferromagnetism and offers a way to tune the supercurrent via flow direction anisotropy.