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Polarization-controlled supercurrent in ferroelectric Josephson junctions

Yaozu Tang1,2, Mazhar N. Ali1,2, Gerrit E. W. Bauer3,4, and Yaroslav M. Blanter1,2

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Phys. Rev. B 113, 144503 – Published 10 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/nvbk-27dx

Abstract

Josephson junctions are essential devices in superconducting electronics and quantum computing hardware. Here we predict electrical control of the supercurrent in composite superconductor-insulator-ferroelectric-insulator-superconductor (S-I-FE-I-S) Josephson junctions. Inversion symmetry broken by unequal dielectric barrier thicknesses and/or potentials converts ferroelectric polarization reversal into a substantial change of the critical current. Using a WKB approximation, we model the nonvolatile switching of the critical current with on-off efficiency that is tunable by thicknesses and potential barriers of the insulating layers, as well as the thickness and dielectric constant of the ferroelectric layer. We also derive a compact linear expression for the critical current valid for small polarizations. Our results identify ferroelectric Josephson junctions as electrically programmable superconducting current switches for cryogenic memory and logic applications.

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Phys. Rev. B 113, 144503– Published 10 April, 2026
  • Received 19 November 2025
  • Accepted 3 March 2026
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