VOLTAGE QUANTIZATION BY BALLISTIC VORTICES IN 2-DIMENSIONAL SUPERCONDUCTORS

The voltage generated by moving ballistic vortices with a mass m(c) in a two-dimensional superconducting ring is quantized, and this quantization depends on the amount of charge enclosed by the ring. The quantization of the voltage is the dual to flux quantization in a superconductor, and is a manifestation of the Aharonov-Casher effect. The quantization is obtained by applying the Bohr-Sommerfeld criterion to the canonical momentum of the ballistic vortices. The results of this quantization condition can also be used to understand the persistent voltage predicted by van Wees for an array of Josephson junctions.