Josephson coupling through one-dimensional ballistic channel in semiconductor-superconductor hybrid quantum point contacts

We study a superconducting quantum point contact made of a narrow In0.75Ga0.25As channel with Nb proximity electrodes. The narrow channel is formed in a gate-fitted constriction of InGaAs/InAlAs/InP heterostructure hosting a two-dimensional electron gas. When the channel opening is varied with the gate, the Josephson critical current exhibits a discretized variation that arises from the quantization of the transverse momentum in the channel. The quantization of Josephson critical current persists down to the single-channel regime, providing an unambiguous demonstration of a semiconductor–superconductor hybrid Josephson junction involving only a single ballistic channel.

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