Supercurrent Quantization in Narrow Channel SNS Junctions

Chtchelkatchev, Nikolai M.; Lesovik, Gordey B.; Blatter, Gianni

Supercurrent Quantization in Narrow Channel SNS Junctions

Authors

Chtchelkatchev, Nikolai M.

Lesovik, Gordey B.

Blatter, Gianni

Description

We determine the quasi-particle excitation spectrum in the normal region of a narrow ballistic superconductor--normal-metal--superconductor (SNS) Josephson contact. Increasing the effective chemical potential in the contact converts the electronic levels into Andreev-levels carrying supercurrent. The opening of these superchannels leads to a supercurrent quantization which exhibits a non-universal behavior in general and we discuss its dependence on the junction parameters.
4 pages, RevTeX, three postscript figures