Time-resolved synchronization analysis of stacked intrinsic Josephson junctions of a cuprate superconductor with frequency-modulated terahertz radiation spectra

Abstract

Terahertz radiation from $\text{Bi}_2\text{Sr}_2\text{CaCu}_2\text{O}_{8+δ}$ intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) provides an ideal platform to study the synchronization of a macroscopic quantum system. Here, we present a spectral analysis of a frequency-modulated Josephson plasma emitter coupled with patch antennas. In the unmodulated intensity distribution as a function of radiation frequency $I_{\mathrm{UM}}(ω)$, we observe a double Gaussian peak structure. Crucially, double-peak spectra obtained at a constant bias voltage imply either a rapid temporal distribution of resonances or their simultaneous excitation, driven by the mutual electromagnetic coupling between the IJJ mesa and the antennas. At low modulation frequencies $f_m$, the spectra are well reproduced by the products of $I_{\mathrm{UM}}(ω)$ and frequency combs, yielding a synchronized relaxation time $τ_s \simeq 0.28\text{ ns}$. Incorporating $τ_s$ quantitatively reproduces a drastic spectral transformation observed around $f_m \sim 1\text{ GHz}$, unveiling the sub-nanosecond non-equilibrium dynamics of coupled Josephson plasma.