Condensed Matter Seminar "Using josephson junctions to probe quantum materials"

Josephson junctions are quantum circuit elements commonly associated with use as fundamental units in quantum computation. These junctions may also play a fundamental role in probing complex materials that have eluded characterization by conventional means. In this talk I'll be presenting some of our group's recent results on using Josephson junctions (JJs) to look for exotic excitations in quantum materials. Specifically, we will present data on junctions made from Pb_xSn_(1-x)Te -- a topological crystalline insulator -- where deviations from conventional JJs becomes most evident under microwave radiation and revel interesting signatures of an unconventional surface state. Finally, I will report on progress made in dynamically creating JJs in NbSe2 and the potential revelation of two independent superconducting order parameters present within the material.

Reference: R. A. Snyder, C. J. Trimble, C. C. Rong, P. A. Folkes, P. J. Taylor, J. R. Williams, arXiv:1710.06077 (2017).