Intrinsic Nonreciprocity in Asymmetric Josephson Junctions with Non-Sinusoidal Current-Phase Relations

Abstract

Josephson junctions (JJs) with non-sinusoidal current-phase relations (CPRs) have gathered increasing attention, partly due to growing interest in topological 2D materials. Understanding how CPR and inhomogeneities in JJs influence their response is crucial for accurate interpretation of experimental observations. This Letter reports that a non-sinusoidal CPR, combined with asymmetries in the JJ, can break spatial symmetry and give rise to the Josephson diode effect (JDE) in the short junction regime. This nonreciprocity is shown to emerge as an intrinsic mechanism related to the maximization of the supercurrent, rather than being solely driven by geometric or material asymmetries. Further analysis shows that JDE efficiency is strongly influenced by the CPR shape but is largely insensitive to junction asymmetry, making the observed nonreciprocity not only a potential experimental signature of unconventional CPRs but also a possible method for probing their properties.