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A locally phase-shifted Sine-Gordon model well accounts for the phenomenology of unconventional Josephson junctions. The phase dynamics shows resonant modes similar to Fiske modes that appear both in the presence and in the absence of the external magnetic field in standard junctions. In the latter case, they are also in competition with zero field propagation of Sine-Gordon solitons, i.e., fluxons, which give rise to the so-called zero field steps in the current-voltage (I-V) of the junction. We numerically study the I-V characteristics and the resonances magnetic field patterns for some different faceting configurations, in various dissipative regimes, as a function of temperature. The simulated dynamics of the phase is analyzed for lower-order resonances. We give evidence of a nontrivial dynamics due to the interaction of propagating fluxons with localized semifluxons. Numerical results are compared with experimental outcomes obtained on high-quality high-Tc grain boundary YBCO junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coherent passage of Cooper pairs in a Josephson junction (JJ) above the liquid nitrogen temperature has been the first impressive revolutionary effect induced by high critical temperature superconductors (HTS) in the domain of the study of Josephson effect (JE). But this has been only the start. A d-wave order parameter has lead to significant novel insights in the physics of the JE turning into a device the notion of a π-junction. Spontaneous currents in a frustrated geometry, Andreev bound states, long-range proximity effect have rapidly become standard terms in the study of the JE, standing as a reference bench for conventional systems based on low critical temperature superconductors (LTS) and inspiring analogies for junctions based on novel superconductors discovered in the meantime. The extreme richness of the physics of HTS JJs has not been adequately supported by the expected impact in the applications, the main reason lying in the complexity of these materials and in the consequent unsatisfactory yield and reproducibility of the performances of the JJs within the required limits. The continuous progress in material science, and specifically in the realization of oxide multi-layers, and in nanotechnologies applied to superconductors, accompanied by the advances in a better understanding of the properties of HTS and of HTS devices, has as a matter of fact opened possible novel scenarios and interest in the field. We intend to give a brief overview on interesting new problems concerning HTS JJs of inspiration also for other systems. We also review some ideas and experimental techniques on macroscopic quantum decay phenomena occurring in Josephson structures. The attention is mainly addressed to intermediate levels of dissipation, which characterize a large majority of low critical current Josephson devices and are therefore an unavoidable consequence of nanotechnology applied more and more to Josephson devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YBa2Cu3O7−δ grain boundary bi-epitaxial Josepshon junctions (JJs) allow a very clear demonstration of Josephson current variation with the misorientation angle, consistent with the d-wave symmetry of the superconducting order parameter in cuprate, high temperature superconductors. Our bi-epitaxial junctions show a strong suppression of the first harmonic, I 1 sin ø, of the current phase relation when tunneling from a lobe into a node of the superconducting gap function. In these configurations, the contribution of the second harmonic, I 2 sin 2ø, becomes of the same magnitude as the first one, giving rise to a characteristic two-well Josephson potential as a function of phase ø instead of the usual single well. This characteristic intrinsic property has suggested proposals of a new class of qu-bit named “quiet” because of the existence a spontaneously degenerate fundamental state without the need of applying an external field. Our experiments probe the macroscopic quantum properties in a d-wave Josephson junction by measuring macroscopic quantum tunneling and energy level quantization. The switching current out of the zero voltage state is measured as a function of temperature down to 20 mK. The temperature variation of the width of an ensemble of switching events goes over from one, which is characteristic of a thermal activation of phase fluctuations to a temperature independent width which is a token of quantum tunneling of the phase. The transition regime is affected by the two-well potential in a 45∘ misorientation junction as the second harmonic term gives rise to additional thermal transitions. The difference between quantized energy levels in the harmonic potential was determined by microwave spectroscopy. From the broadening of energy levels, it was possible to extract a Q-value of about 40 for the phase oscillations. The relatively high Q indicates quantum coherence over a sizeable time in d-wave junctions and gives hopes for a realization of a “quiet” high- T c qu-bit. The contributions of V. L. Ginzburg to several different fields of physics are impressive and long standing. In superconductivity the Ginzburg–Landau theory, for instance, still represents a very powerful approach to model a huge number of different physical systems. High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) have strongly influenced research of the last 20 years and their d-wave order parameter symmetry represents one of the most intriguing features from both the fundamental point of view and some types of innovative long-term applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluate how the curvature dependence of surface tension affects the shape of electrically charged interfaces between a perfectly conducting fluid and its vapour. We consider two cases: i) spherical droplets in equilibrium with their vapour; ii) menisci pending in a capillary tube in presence of a conducting plate at given electric potential drop. Tolman-like dependence of surface tension on curvature becomes important when the “nucleation radius” is comparable with the interface curvature radius. In case i) we prove existence of the equilibrium minimal radius and estimate its dependence on the electric fields and Tolman-like curvature effects. In case ii) the menisci are subject to the gravitational force, surface tension and electrostatic fields. We determine the unknown surface of the menisci to which the potential is assigned using an iterative numerical method and show that Tolman-like corrections imply: 1) a variation of the height (up to 10% in some cases) of the tip of the menisci; 2) a decrease of the maximum electrical potential applicable to the menisci before their break-down amounting to 40 V over 800 V in the considered cases. We conjecture that these effects could be used in new experiments based on electric measurements to determine the dependence of the equilibrium surface tension on curvature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]