In the realm of energy research, a trio of scientists from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine have made a notable discovery that could potentially impact the development of superconducting technologies. Andrii O. Prykhodko, Ivan O. Starodub, and Yaroslav Zolotaryuk have published their findings in the journal Physical Review B, shedding light on a unique phenomenon within Josephson junction ladders.
Josephson junctions, which are the fundamental building blocks of superconducting electronics, consist of two superconductors separated by a thin insulating barrier. When these junctions are arranged in a ladder-like structure, they can exhibit intriguing physical properties. The researchers have identified exact solutions for stationary compact fluxon profiles in these inductively coupled and DC-biased Josephson junction ladders. Fluxons, or magnetic flux quanta, are localized disturbances in the superconducting state that behave like particles.
The study reveals that these compact fluxon states do not exist in parallel Josephson junction arrays, which are described by the standard discrete sine-Gordon equation. Instead, the ladder configuration allows for both compact fluxon and multi-fluxon states. These states can either satisfy a top-bottom antisymmetry or be asymmetric. The antisymmetric states have zero energy when their topological charge is even, while the asymmetric states always have zero energy. The existence of these compact states depends on the anisotropy constant, with some configurations allowing coexistence with non-compact states, while others only permit compact states.
The researchers also found that an external magnetic field can prevent the existence of compact states. This discovery could have practical implications for the energy sector, particularly in the development of superconducting devices. Understanding and controlling fluxon dynamics in Josephson junction ladders could lead to advancements in superconducting electronics, quantum computing, and high-precision magnetic field sensors. The ability to manipulate compact fluxon states could also contribute to the development of more efficient and stable superconducting circuits for energy transmission and storage.
The research was published in the journal Physical Review B, a reputable source for condensed matter and materials physics research. As the energy industry continues to explore superconducting technologies, the insights gained from this study could pave the way for innovative applications in the field.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.