https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-025-01834-2
Regular Article
Current phase relation in a planar graphene Josephson junction with spin–orbit coupling
1
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Ettore Majorana”, Università di Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95123, Catania, Italy
2
INFN Sez. Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
a
federico.bonasera@dfa.unict.it
Received:
28
April
2025
Accepted:
25
July
2025
Published online:
4
August
2025
We study a graphene Josephson junction where the inner graphene layer is subjected to spin–orbit coupling by proximity effect. This could be achieved, for example, by growing the graphene layer on top of a transition-metal dichalcogenide, such as WS
. Here, we focus on the ballistic, wide, and short junction limits and study the effects of the spin–orbit interaction on the supercurrent. In particular, we analyze the current-phase relation using an analytical approach based on the continuum model. We find combinations of types of spin–orbit coupling that significantly suppress the supercurrent by opening a gap in the graphene band structure. At the same time, other combinations enhance it, acting as an effective spin–valley resolved chemical potential. Moreover, we find that a strong Rashba spin–orbit coupling leads to a junction with a highly voltage tunable harmonic content.
© The Author(s) 2025
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