JOSEPHSON EFFECT Meaning and
Definition
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The Josephson effect refers to a remarkable phenomenon in superconductivity where an electric current can flow between two superconductors separated by a thin insulating barrier, without the need for any voltage to drive it. This unique effect is named after Brian D. Josephson, the British physicist who predicted and explained it in 1962.
In specific terms, the Josephson effect occurs when a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) junction is formed. The junction typically consists of two superconducting electrodes connected through a thin layer of insulating material, known as the Josephson junction. The junction may be naturally occurring, such as in a superconducting material, or artificially created.
The Josephson effect manifests itself as the spontaneous and coherent tunneling of Cooper pairs (pairs of electrons bound together at very low temperatures in a superconducting material) across the insulating barrier, without any energy loss. The tunneling of Cooper pairs results in the creation of an alternating electric current through the Josephson junction, known as the Josephson current. This current is highly sensitive to even minuscule changes in the conditions of the junction, such as the applied magnetic field or temperature.
Due to its nature, the Josephson effect has various practical applications, particularly in quantum computing, metrology, and ultra-sensitive electronic devices. By exploiting the predictable and precise nature of the Josephson current, researchers can design high-performance superconducting devices, such as superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) and Josephson voltage standards, which exhibit exceptional accuracy and stability.
Common Misspellings for JOSEPHSON EFFECT
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Etymology of JOSEPHSON EFFECT
The term "Josephson effect" is derived from the name of the physicist Brian David Josephson, who discovered the effect in 1962. Josephson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 for his discovery. The word "effect" signifies the phenomenon or the observable consequence of Josephson's findings.
