Quasiparticle dynamics in superconducting weak links

Abstract

The dynamic properties of the order parameter and the quasiparticle distribution function in short superconducting weak links are investigated. The corresponding equations recently derived by Schmid, Sch6n, and Tinkham are solved numerically in a wide range of parameters. The complete low-voltage part of the current-voltage characteristic is determined, which shows a foot structure observed in many experiments. The frequency spectrum of the emitted Josephson radiation is also calculated.