Fabrication of TlCaBaCuO step-edge Josephson junctions with hysteretic behavior

Abstract
One way to create hysteretic Josephson junctions from the currently available nonhysteretic high temperature superconducting junctions is to artificially add capacitance. We have adapted a multilayer technique for artificial capacitance addition/grain boundary modification to produce TlCaBaCuO step‐edge junctions exhibiting large amounts of hysteresis at 77 K. A gaplike structure is present at 32–36 mV that has a temperature dependence that does not contradict that predicted by the Bardeen‐Cooper‐Schrieffer theory. In addition, the junctions show fast switching times, less than a fixture limited 20 ps, and Fraunhofer‐like dependence of critical current on magnetic field.