Effective Josephson Junction Networks and π-Flux Trapping in Single-Crystal Superconductors with Frustrated Magnetic Textures

ORAL

Abstract

We demonstrate that anisotropic Josephson couplings can promote the emergence of a network of Josephson junctions within a single-crystal superconductor. Although structurally homogeneous, the system self-organizes into many coupled superconducting grains and can allow for π-flux trapping for unconventional pairing orders, indicating spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking. Such Josephson couplings can arise, for example, in a Kondo model, in which itinerant electrons are strongly coupled to a frustrated local exchange field [arXiv:2506.15661]. We provide a self-consistent solution for a model on a triangular lattice, demonstrating that a frustrated magnetic texture can give rise to many weakly coupled superconducting grains. Our results are pertinent to superconducting 4Hb-TaS2 and reveal new routes to engineer Josephson networks from the interplay of frustrated magnetism and unconventional superconducting order.

Presenters

  • Grayson R Frazier

    • Johns Hopkins University

Authors

  • Grayson R Frazier

    • Johns Hopkins University
  • Colton Lelievre

    • Johns Hopkins University
  • Yi Li

    • Johns Hopkins University