Gate- and flux-tunable sin(2φ) Josephson element with planar-Ge junctions
Abstract Hybrid superconductor-semiconductor Josephson field-effect transistors (JoFETs) function as Josephson junctions with gate-tunable critical current. Additionally, they can feature a non-sinusoidal current-phase relation (CPR) containing multiple harmonics of the superconducting phase differe...
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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Series: | Nature Communications |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56245-7 |
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Summary: | Abstract Hybrid superconductor-semiconductor Josephson field-effect transistors (JoFETs) function as Josephson junctions with gate-tunable critical current. Additionally, they can feature a non-sinusoidal current-phase relation (CPR) containing multiple harmonics of the superconducting phase difference, a so-far underutilized property. Here we exploit this multi-harmonicity to create a Josephson circuit element with an almost perfectly π-periodic CPR, indicative of a largely dominant charge-4e supercurrent transport. We realize such a Josephson element, recently proposed as building block of a protected superconducting qubit, using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) with low-inductance aluminum arms and two nominally identical JoFETs. The latter are fabricated from a SiGe/Ge/SiGe quantum-well heterostructure embedding a high-mobility two-dimensional hole gas. By carefully adjusting the JoFET gate voltages and finely tuning the magnetic flux through the SQUID close to half a flux quantum, we achieve a regime where the $$\sin (2\varphi )$$ sin ( 2 φ ) component accounts for more than 95% of the total supercurrent. This result demonstrates a new promising route towards parity-protected superconducting qubits. |
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ISSN: | 2041-1723 |