Simulation of I-V Hysteresis Branches in An Intrinsic Stack of Josephson Junctions in High $T_c$ Superconductors

Abstract

I-V characteristics of the high T$_c$ superconductor Bi$_2$Sr$_2$Ca$_1$C$_2$O$_8$ shows a strong hysteresis, producing many branches. The origin of hysteresis jumps is studied by use of the model of multi-layered Josephson junctions proposed by one of the authors (T. K.). The charging effect at superconducting layers produces a coupling between the next nearest neighbor phase-differences, which determines the structure of hysteresis branches. It will be shown that a solution of phase motions is understood as a combination of rotating and oscillating phase-differences, and that, at points of hysteresis jumps, there occurs a change in the number of rotating phase-differences. Effects of dissipation are analyzed. The dissipation in insulating layers works to damp the phase motion itself, while the dissipation in superconducting layers works to damp relative motions of phase-differences. Their effects to hysteresis jumps are discussed.