Dynamics of accelerated Josephson junctions

The behavior of large-area Josephson tunneling junctions (JTJ) is analyzed theoretically, taking the theory of general relativity into account. The covariant sine-Gordon equation for a large-area JTJ of undefined contour is established and adapted to the specific case of a rotating ring-shaped JTJ. The dynamics of the soliton as rotation rate is varied are investigated. It is shown that soliton angular velocity, conserved with respect to the inertial reference frame in an ideal, vacuum-barrier ring JTJ when ring angular velocity is changed, will be decreased in a real ring JTJ due to permeability/permittivity variation and junction inhomogeneity, resulting in possible soliton pinning. The difficulties implied for the construction of a Josephson inertial rotation sensor (analogous to optical rotation sensors based on the Sagnac effect) and possible techniques for overcoming them are discussed.