Phase tuning of multiple Andreev reflections of Dirac fermions and the Josephson supercurrent in Al-MoTe 2 -Al junctions.
Zheyi ZhuStephan KimShiming LeiLeslie M SchoopR J CavaNai Phuan OngPublished in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2022)
When an electron is incident on a superconductor from a metal, it is reflected as a hole in a process called Andreev reflection. If the metal N is sandwiched between two superconductors S in an SNS junction, multiple Andreev reflections (MARs) occur. We have found that, in SNS junctions with high transparency ([Formula: see text]) based on the Dirac semimetal MoTe 2 , the MAR features are observed with exceptional resolution. By tuning the phase difference [Formula: see text] between the bracketing Al superconductors, we establish that the MARs coexist with a Josephson supercurrent [Formula: see text]. As we vary the junction voltage V , the supercurrent amplitude [Formula: see text] varies in step with the MAR order n , revealing a direct relation between them. Two successive Andreev reflections serve to shuttle a Cooper pair across the junction. If the pair is shuttled coherently, it contributes to [Formula: see text]. The experiment measures the fraction of pairs shuttled coherently vs. V . Surprisingly, superconductivity in MoTe 2 does not affect the MAR features.