Controllable plasma energy bands in a 1D crystal of fractional Josephson vortices

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how to create and control energy bands for plasma waves in a one-dimensional chain of fractional Josephson vortices, enabling tunable vortex crystals for potential applications in superconducting electronics.

Contribution

It introduces a method to engineer and manipulate plasma energy bands in a 1D vortex chain with adjustable parameters, advancing control over vortex-based superconducting devices.

Findings

Eigenmode splitting leads to oscillatory energy bands.

Band structure can be tuned during design or experiment.

Artificial vortex crystals with controllable plasmonic properties.

Abstract

We consider a 1D chain of fractional vortices in a long Josephson junction with alternating $\pm\kappa$ phase discontinuities. Since each vortex has its own eigenfrequency, the inter-vortex coupling results in eigenmode splitting and in the formation of an oscillatory energy band for plasma waves. The band structure can be controlled at the design time by choosing the distance between vortices or \emph{during experiment} by varying the topological charge of vortices or the bias current. Thus one can construct an artificial vortex crystal with controllable energy bands for plasmons.