Josephson phase shift and diode effect due to the inverse spin Hall effect
Gen Tatara, Yositake Takane, Aurelien Manchon
TLDR
This paper theoretically studies spin Hall effects in SNS junctions, revealing a supercurrent-induced spin accumulation and an inverse effect leading to a Josephson diode effect.
Key contributions
- Theoretically studies direct and inverse spin Hall effects in SNS junctions.
- Shows supercurrents induce spin accumulation via the direct spin Hall effect.
- Demonstrates an inhomogeneous magnetic field causes an anomalous Josephson phase shift.
- Reveals this phase shift, with higher harmonics, leads to a Josephson diode effect without broken inversion symmetry.
Why it matters
This paper introduces a novel mechanism for the Josephson diode effect, crucial for superconducting electronics. Unlike previous systems, it achieves this without requiring broken structural inversion symmetry, broadening the scope of potential materials. This work advances our understanding of spin-orbit coupling in superconductors.
Original Abstract
We theoretically study the direct and inverse spin Hall effects in a superconductor-normal metal-superconductor junction induced by a spin-orbit interaction that is invariant under spatial inversion. We show that a supercurrent induces a spin Hall effect, leading to a static spin accumulation with opposite polarizations at the two edges, analogous to that in normal conductors. For the inverse effect, we consider a spatially inhomogeneous static magnetic field and show that it induces an anomalous phase shift, which, in the presence of higher harmonics, results in a diode effect. Unlike Rashba systems, the present mechanism does not require broken structural inversion symmetry.
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