Resonant phase dynamics in 0-π Sine–Gordon facets

Abstract

A locally phase-shifted Sine–Gordon model well accounts for the phenomenology of unconventional Josephson junctions. The phase dynamics shows resonant modes similar to Fiske modes that appear both in the presence and in the absence of the external magnetic field in standard junctions. In the latter case, they are also in competition with zero field propagation of Sine–Gordon solitons, i.e., fluxons, which give rise to the so-called zero field steps in the current–voltage (I–V) of the junction. We numerically study the I–V characteristics and the resonances magnetic field patterns for some different faceting configurations, in various dissipative regimes, as a function of temperature. The simulated dynamics of the phase is analyzed for lower-order resonances. We give evidence of a nontrivial dynamics due to the interaction of propagating fluxons with localized semifluxons. Numerical results are compared with experimental outcomes obtained on high-quality high-Tc grain boundary YBCO junctions.