Anomalous Josephson effect induced by spin-orbit interaction and Zeeman effect in semiconductor nanowires

Abstract

We investigate theoretically the Josephson junction of semiconductor nanowire with strong spin-orbit (SO) interaction in the presence of magnetic field. By using a tight-binding model, the energy levels ${E}_{n}$ of Andreev bound states are numerically calculated as a function of phase difference $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ between two superconductors in the case of short junctions. The dc Josephson current is evaluated from the Andreev levels. In the absence of SO interaction, a 0-$\ensuremath{\pi}$ transition due to the magnetic field is clearly observed. In the presence of SO interaction, the coexistence of SO interaction and Zeeman effect results in ${E}_{n}(\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\varphi})\ensuremath{\ne}{E}_{n}(\ensuremath{\varphi})$, where the anomalous Josephson current flows even at $\ensuremath{\varphi}=0$. In addition, the direction dependence of critical current is observed, in accordance with experimental results.