Functional superconductor interfaces from broken time-reversal symmetry.
The breaking of time-reversal symmetry in a triplet superconductor Josephson junction is shown to cause a magnetic instability of the tunneling barrier. Using a Ginzburg-Landau analysis of the free energy, we predict that this novel functional behavior reflects the formation of an exotic Josephson state, distinguished by the existence of fractional flux quanta at the barrier. The crucial role of the orbital pairing state is demonstrated by studying complementary microscopic models of the junction. Signatures of the magnetic instability are found in the critical current of the junction.
Brydon
P M R
PM
Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. brydon@theory.phy.tu-dresden.de
Iniotakis
Christian
C
Manske
Dirk
D
Sigrist
M
M