Current-biased Josephson junctions exhibit hysteretic transitions between dissipative and superconducting states as characterized by switching and retrapping currents. Here, we develop a theory for diode-like effects in the switching and retrapping currents of weakly-damped Josephson junctions. We find that while the diode-like behavior of switching currents is rooted in asymmetric current-phase relations, nonreciprocal retrapping currents originate in asymmetric quasiparticle currents. These different origins also imply distinctly different symmetry requirements. We illustrate our results by a microscopic model for junctions involving a single magnetic atom. Our theory provides significant guidance in identifying the microscopic origin of nonreciprocities in Josephson junctions.
@article{arxiv.2212.06866,
title = {Diode effects in current-biased Josephson junctions},
author = {Jacob F. Steiner and Larissa Melischek and Martina Trahms and Katharina J. Franke and Felix von Oppen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2212.06866},
year = {2024}
}