Observation of the Bloch oscillations in an ultrasmall Josephson junction
Abstract
We have studied the low-temperature behavior of lead-alloy Josephson tunnel junctions with area S~=0.01 μm2, isolated from their electromagnetic environment by high-resistance metallic resistors inserted into the current and voltage leads. Under irradiation with microwaves frequencies, f=3.5-10 GHz, the dc differential resistance dV/dI, as a function of the dc current I, showed peaks at I=+/-2ef. This effect, and other observations, arises due to the periodic electrical recharging of the junction by discrete Cooper pairs, and can be explained by the ``orthodox'' theory of Bloch oscillations.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.2890
- Bibcode:
- 1991PhRvL..67.2890K
- Keywords:
-
- Bloch Band;
- Electrical Resistivity;
- Josephson Junctions;
- Lead Alloys;
- Cryogenic Equipment;
- Electron Tunneling;
- Low Temperature;
- Microwaves;
- Quantum Electronics;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering;
- 74.50.+r;
- 73.40.Gk;
- 73.40.Rw;
- Tunneling phenomena;
- point contacts weak links Josephson effects;
- Tunneling;
- Metal-insulator-metal structures