Theory of Josephson tunneling into proximity-effect sandwiches

Abstract

We develop the microscopic theory of the superconducting proximity effect to allow the calculation of the Josephson current in tunnel junctions where one or both electrodes are proximity-effect bilayers. The Josephson current can then be calculated with the same theory that is used to interpret quasiparticle tunneling characteristics in quantitative detail. One significant result is that the Josephson current is much more rapidly attenuated by thin normal layers adjacent to the tunnel barrier than is the gap in the quasiparticle current. © 1981.