Josephson diode effect: a phenomenological perspective

Abstract: As a novel quantum phenomenon with nonreciprocal supercurrent, the Josephson diode effect was intensively studied in recent years. Here, we construct a generalized resistively capacitance shunted junction (RCSJ) model as a low-energy effective/phenomenological theory for a general Josephson junction. For the ideal diode effect defined by unequal critical currents $|I_{c+}|\ne|I_{c-}|$, both inversion $\mathcal{I}$ and time-reversal $\mathcal{T}$ symmetries are required to be broken. It can be further divided into two classes: intrinsic ($\mathcal{T}$-breaking for the junction itself) and extrinsic ($\mathcal{T}$-breaking under external current reversion). In addition, a pseudo diode effect ($\mathcal{T}$-breaking not necessary) can be defined by $|I_{c+}|=|I_{c-}|$ but unequal retrapping currents $|I_{r+}|\ne|I_{r-}|$, for which noise current is further shown to produce the diode feature effectively. Finally, when radio-frequency AC external current exists, the Shapiro steps appear and can be used to distinguish the above three types of the diode effect. Our work provides a unified framework for studying the Josephson diode effect and can be applied to design workable superconducting circuits incorporating the Josephson diode as a fundamental circuit element.