Weak-link Josephson Junctions Made from Topological Crystalline Insulators

Abstract

We report on the fabrication of Josephson junctions using the topological crystalline insulator Pb$_{0.5}$Sn$_{0.5}$Te as the weak link. The properties of these junctions are characterized and compared to those fabricated with weak links of PbTe, a similar material yet topologically trivial. Most striking is the difference in the AC Josephson effect: junctions made with Pb$_{0.5}$Sn$_{0.5}$Te exhibit rich subharmonic structure consistent with a skewed current-phase relation. This structure is absent in junctions fabricated from PbTe. A discussion is given on the origin of this effect as an indication of novel behavior arising from the topologically nontrivial surface state.