Anomalous flux periodicity in proximitised quantum spin Hall constrictions

Abstract

We theoretically analyse a long constriction between the helical edge states of a two-dimensional topological insulator. The constriction is laterally tunnel-coupled to two superconductors and a magnetic field is applied perpendicularly to the plane of the two-dimensional topological insulator. The Josephson current is calculated analytically up to second order in the tunnel coupling both in the absence and in the presence of a bias (DC and AC Josephson currents). We show that in both cases the current acquires an anomalous 4 π -periodicity with respect to the magnetic flux that is absent if the two edges are not tunnel-coupled to each other. The result, that provides at the same time a characterisation of the device and a possible experimental signature of the coupling between the edges, is stable against temperature. The processes responsible for the anomalous 4 π -periodicity are the ones where, within the constriction, one of the two electrons forming a Cooper pair tunnels between the two edges.

Keywords

• edge states
• Josephson junctions
• topological insulators
• helical constrictions
• quantum interference
• 4π-periodicity