Quantum interference of edge supercurrents in a two-dimensional topological insulator

Abstract

Josephson weak links made of two-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) exhibit magnetic oscillations of the supercurrent that are reminiscent of those in superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). We propose a microscopic theory of this effect that goes beyond the approaches based on the standard SQUID theory. For long junctions we find a temperature-driven crossover from Phi_0-periodic SQUID-like oscillations to a 2 Phi_0-quasiperiodic interference pattern with different peaks at even and odd values of the magnetic flux quantum Phi_0=ch/2e. This behavior is absent in short junctions where the main interference signal occurs at zero magnetic field. Both types of interference patterns reveal gapless (protected) Andreev bound states. We show, however, that the usual sawtooth current-flux relationship is profoundly modified by a Doppler-like effect of the shielding current which has been overlooked previously. Our findings may explain recently observed even-odd interference patterns in InAs/GaSb-based TI Josephson junctions and uncover unexplored operation regimes of nano-SQUIDs.

Emphasizes novel aspects beyond the standard SQUID theory; includes Supplemental material with a general gauge-invariant analysis of the system and a brief discussion of the fermion parity effects; typos corrected

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• Superconducting Quantum Interference in Edge State Josephson Junctions
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• Superconducting Diode Effect in Quantum Spin Hall Insulator-based Josephson Junctions
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• Intrinsic non-magnetic ${\varphi }_0$ Josephson junctions in twisted bilayer graphene
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• Nonlocal thermoelectricity in quantum wires as a signature of Bogoliubov-Fermi points
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• Topological Josephson Junctions in the Integer Quantum Hall Regime
• Edge supercurrent in Josephson junctions based on topological materials
• Effects of the Spatial Extension of the Edge Channels on the Interference Pattern of a Helical Josephson Junction
• Spin-resolved spectroscopy of helical Andreev bound states
• The Josephson effect in Fibonacci superconductors
• Anomalous flux periodicity in proximitised quantum spin Hall constrictions
• Interedge backscattering in time-reversal symmetric quantum spin Hall Josephson junctions