AHARONOV-BOHM-TYPE EFFECT FOR VORTICES IN JOSEPHSON-JUNCTION ARRAYS

The dynamics of a single vortex present in a ring-shaped (Corbino geometry) two-dimensional array of low-capacity Josephson junctions is studied. The vortex is treated as a macroscopic quantum particle, whose energy levels En(Q0) are periodic functions of the externally induced gauge charge Q0 which is enclosed by the vortex, with a period 2e. This Aharonov-Bohme"type effect may manifest itself as a persistent voltage Vs=dE0(Q0)/dQ0 between interior and exterior contacts, or alternatively as Bloch oscillations. The relation with the Aharonov-Casher effect and the possibility for experimental observation are discussed. © 1990 The American Physical Society.