Superconducting Diode Effect Due to Chiral Meissner Currents in a Hollow Superconducting Helix

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Authors: Axel J. M. Deenen, Dirk Grundler
Cited by: 1
References: 41

Abstract

The superconducting diode effect is a key nonreciprocal phenomenon with broad relevance for superconducting electronics. Using time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau simulations, we predict and quantify a superconducting diode effect arising solely from geometric chirality imposed on a conventional superconductor. The helical geometry and magnetic-field-induced screening currents produce inequivalent critical currents for opposite polarities. The diode efficiency reaches a maximum when one current direction first nucleates vortices, revealing a chirality-controlled crossover between screening- and vortex-dominated nonreciprocity. These results establish mesoscopic geometric chirality as a robust mechanism for supercurrent rectification in an achiral superconductor. They suggest an experimentally accessible route toward 3D superconducting diodes for multilevel integrated quantum circuits.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism Topological Materials and Phenomena Superconductivity in MgB2 and Alloys

Publication details

Journal / source
Nano Letters
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Volume
26
Issue
17
Pages
5680–5685
Publication date
25 February 2026
Language
EN