Unusual linewidth dependence of coherent THz emission measured from intrinsic Josephson junction stacks in the hot-spot regime

Abstract

We report on measurements of the linewidth Δf of THz radiation emitted from intrinsic Josephson junction stacks, using a Nb/AlN/NbN integrated receiver for detection. Previous resolution limited measurements indicated that Δf may be below 1 GHz - much smaller than expected from a purely cavity-induced synchronization. While at low bias we found Δf to be not smaller than ? 500 MHz, at high bias, where a hotspot coexists with regions which are still superconducting, Δf turned out to be as narrow as 23 MHz. We attribute this to the hotspot acting as a synchronizing element. Δf decreases with increasing bath temperature, a behavior reminiscent of motional narrowing in NMR or ESR, but hard to explain in standard electrodynamic models of Josephson junctions.

4 figures, 5 pages