Vortex-like current states in Josephson ballistic point contacts

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates vortex-like current states in Josephson ballistic point contacts, revealing how externally injected supercurrents and phase differences lead to localized quasiparticle currents and complex current distributions.

Contribution

It introduces new insights into vortex-like current states in Josephson point contacts, including double contacts and the effects of supercurrent coexistence.

Findings

Current distributions include vortex-like states near the contact.

Coexistence of transport supercurrent and phase difference creates localized quasiparticle currents.

Double point contacts exhibit complex vortex patterns.

Abstract

The stationary Josephson effect is studied theoretically in the situation when there is externally injected transport supercurrent which flows in the banks parallel to the contact interface. Coexistence of this supercurrent with the order parameter phase difference between the banks of the contact results in the appearance of quasiparticles in the weak link, which create the current, localized in the vicinity of the contact and counter-flowing to the transport supercurrent. We review the results of our previous study of weak links between current-carrying conventional and unconventional (d-wave) superconductors. And further we study the weak link in the form of double point contact between current-carrying superconductors. The current distribution patterns, containing the vortex-like states, are obtained.