Spontaneous Josephson $\pi$ Junctions with Topological Superconductors

Abstract

We study a junction between two time-reversal-invariant topological superconductors and show this system goes through a series of multiple transitions between a $0$-junction phase, where the free energy has its minimum for a superconducting phase difference of zero, and a $\pi$-junction phase, where the free energy has its minimum for a superconducting phase difference of $\pi$. These transitions occur in the absence of Coulomb blockade or magnetic impurities. Rather, they are driven by the spin orbit coupling in the junction, and can be probed, for example, by measuring the tunneling density of states or the critical current as a function of the junction's length or its Fermi velocity.

New title, 5+ pages, 5 figures

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Cited by in corpus (6)

• Tomography of zero-energy end modes in topological superconducting wires
• Topological superconducting phases and Josephson effect in curved time-reversal-invariant superconductors
• Josephson junctions of 2D time-reversal invariant superconductors: signatures of the topological phase
• Transport signatures of topological phases in double nanowires probed by spin-polarized STM
• Binding zero modes with fluxons in Josephson junctions of time-reversal invariant topological superconductors
• Diode effect in a skyrmion-coupled high-temperature Josephson junction