Quantum Vortices Near the Superconductor-Insulator Transition in Josephson Junction Arrays

Abstract

The properties of vortices in Josephson junction arrays are investigated in the quantum regime near the superconductor-insulator transition. We derive and study an effective action for vortex dynamics that is valid in the region where the charging energy is comparable to the Josephson coupling energy. In the superconducting phase the onset of quantum effects reduces the vortex mass and depinning current. In the case of long range Coulomb interaction between Cooper pairs we find that as the transition is approached, the velocity window in which ballistic vortex motion is possible grows. At the superconductor-insulator transition the vortex mass vanishes and vortices and spinwaves decouple. In the case of on-site Coulomb repulsion (which is of relevance for superconducting granular films) the vortex mass it is sample-size dependent in the superconducting phase, but stays finite at the critical point where it is scale invariant. The relation of our work to experiment is discussed.