Anomalous Josephson effect induced by spin-orbit interaction and Zeeman effect in semiconductor nanowires

Abstract

We investigate theoretically the Josephson junction of semiconductor nanowire with strong spin-orbit (SO) interaction in the presence of magnetic field. By using a tight-binding model, the energy levels $E_n$ of Andreev bound states are numerically calculated as a function of phase difference $\varphi$ between two superconductors in the case of short junctions. The DC Josephson current is evaluated from the Andreev levels. In the absence of SO interaction, a $0$-$\pi$ transition due to the magnetic field is clearly observed. In the presence of SO interaction, the coexistence of SO interaction and Zeeman effect results in $E_n (-\varphi) \ne E_n (\varphi)$, where the anomalous Josephson current flows even at $\varphi =0$. In addition, the direction-dependence of critical current is observed, in accordance with experimental results.