Radiation induced oscillating gap states of nonequilibrium two-dimensional superconductors

Abstract

We study effects of infrared radiations on a two-dimensional BCS superconductor coupled with a normal metal substrate through a tunneling barrier. The phase transition conditions are analyzed by inspecting stability of the system against perturbations of pairing potentials. We find an oscillating gap phase with a frequency not directly related to the radiation frequency but resulting from the asymmetry of electron density of states of the system as well as the tunneling amplitude. When such a superconductor is in contact with another superconductor, it will give rise to an unusual alternating Josephson current.