Doubled Shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator Josephson junction

Abstract Dynamic axion insulators feature a time-dependent axion field that can be induced by antiferromagnetic resonance. Here, we show that a Josephson junction incorporating this dynamic axion insulator between two superconductors exhibits striking doubled Shapiro steps wherein all odd steps are...

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Main Authors: Yu-Hang Li, Zi-Qian Zhou, Ran Cheng, Hua Jiang, X. C. Xie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:npj Quantum Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-024-00692-w
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author Yu-Hang Li
Zi-Qian Zhou
Ran Cheng
Hua Jiang
X. C. Xie
author_facet Yu-Hang Li
Zi-Qian Zhou
Ran Cheng
Hua Jiang
X. C. Xie
author_sort Yu-Hang Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Dynamic axion insulators feature a time-dependent axion field that can be induced by antiferromagnetic resonance. Here, we show that a Josephson junction incorporating this dynamic axion insulator between two superconductors exhibits striking doubled Shapiro steps wherein all odd steps are completely suppressed in the joint presence of a DC bias and a static magnetic field. The resistively shunted junction simulation confirms that these doubled Shapiro steps originate from the distinctive axion electrodynamics driven by the antiferromagnetic resonance, which thus not only furnishes a hallmark to identify the dynamic axion insulator but also provides a method to evaluate its mass term. Furthermore, the experimentally feasible differential conductance is also determined. Our work holds significant importance in condensed matter physics and materials science for understanding the dynamic axion insulator, paving the way for its further exploration and applications.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2397-4648
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publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Quantum Materials
spelling doaj-art-ceeeff47f92b4144976b6ae4e0e971462025-08-20T02:11:23ZengNature Portfolionpj Quantum Materials2397-46482024-10-01911710.1038/s41535-024-00692-wDoubled Shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator Josephson junctionYu-Hang Li0Zi-Qian Zhou1Ran Cheng2Hua Jiang3X. C. Xie4School of Physics, Nankai UniversityInternational Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking UniversityDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of CaliforniaInterdisciplinary Center for Theoretical Physics and Information Sciences (ICTPIS), Fudan UniversityInternational Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking UniversityAbstract Dynamic axion insulators feature a time-dependent axion field that can be induced by antiferromagnetic resonance. Here, we show that a Josephson junction incorporating this dynamic axion insulator between two superconductors exhibits striking doubled Shapiro steps wherein all odd steps are completely suppressed in the joint presence of a DC bias and a static magnetic field. The resistively shunted junction simulation confirms that these doubled Shapiro steps originate from the distinctive axion electrodynamics driven by the antiferromagnetic resonance, which thus not only furnishes a hallmark to identify the dynamic axion insulator but also provides a method to evaluate its mass term. Furthermore, the experimentally feasible differential conductance is also determined. Our work holds significant importance in condensed matter physics and materials science for understanding the dynamic axion insulator, paving the way for its further exploration and applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-024-00692-w
spellingShingle Yu-Hang Li
Zi-Qian Zhou
Ran Cheng
Hua Jiang
X. C. Xie
Doubled Shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator Josephson junction
npj Quantum Materials
title Doubled Shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator Josephson junction
title_full Doubled Shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator Josephson junction
title_fullStr Doubled Shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator Josephson junction
title_full_unstemmed Doubled Shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator Josephson junction
title_short Doubled Shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator Josephson junction
title_sort doubled shapiro steps in a dynamic axion insulator josephson junction
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-024-00692-w
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AT huajiang doubledshapirostepsinadynamicaxioninsulatorjosephsonjunction
AT xcxie doubledshapirostepsinadynamicaxioninsulatorjosephsonjunction