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arXiv · 2604.12313

Nanoscale electrothermal-switch superconducting diode for electrically programmable superconducting circuits

Tianyu Li·Jiong Li·Chong Li·Peiyuan Huang·Nuo-Zhou Yang·Wuyue Xu·Wen-Cheng Yue·Yang-Yang Lyu·Yihuang Xiong·Xuecou Tu·Tao Tao·Xiaoqing Jia·Qing-Hu Chen·Huabing Wang·Peiheng Wu·Yong-Lei Wang
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Abstract

Superconducting diodes enable dissipationless directional transport, yet achieving electrical tunability and scalability remains a major challenge for circuit-level integration. Here, we demonstrate an electrothermal-switch superconducting diode in which a gate-controlled nanoscale hotspot dynamically breaks inversion symmetry in a superconducting nanowire. This mechanism gives rise to two coexisting nonreciprocal transport regimes-one associated with a nonreciprocal superconducting-to-normal transition and the other with ratchet-like vortex dynamics-both originating from the same electrothermal-switch process. The diode exhibits efficiencies up to 42% and 60% for the two regimes, respectively, and can be electrically switched on, off, or reversed in polarity in situ by applying a small gate current. These capabilities enable programmable superconducting circuits that realize electrically reconfigurable full-wave and half-wave rectification. The lithography-compatible design, high performance, and gate-controlled functionality establish a scalable platform for programmable superconducting electronics and hybrid quantum systems.

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Tianyu Li, Jiong Li, Chong Li, Peiyuan Huang, Nuo-Zhou Yang, Wuyue Xu, Wen-Cheng Yue, Yang-Yang Lyu, Yihuang Xiong, Xuecou Tu, Tao Tao, Xiaoqing Jia, Qing-Hu Chen, Huabing Wang, Peiheng Wu, Yong-Lei Wang. 2026-04-14. Nanoscale electrothermal-switch superconducting diode for electrically programmable superconducting circuits. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.6c00080

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