In-situ creation and control of Josephson junctions with a laser beam

We propose the use of a laser beam tightly focused on a superconducting strip to create a Josephson junction by photothermal effect. The critical current of this junction can be easily controlled by the laser intensity. We show that a periodic modulation of the intensity substantially changes the dynamic properties of the junction and results in the appearance of Shapiro steps without microwave radiation. The experimental realization of optically driven Josephson junctions may open a way for the ultra-fast creation and switching of complex patterns of superconducting devices with tunable geometry and current-phase relations.Control de courants supraconducteurs via des effets de spin et de champ: fondements pour une électronique non conventionnelleManipulation optique de quanta de flux individuels dans les supraconducteurs et applicationsNANOSCALE COHERENT HYBRID DEVICES FOR SUPERCONDUCTING QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIE