Properties of superconducting p-n junctions

Possible band diagrams and electrical transport properties of aniso-type superconducting junctions - contacts in which the charge carriers are electrons in one electrode and holes in the other - are discussed. Special attention is given to p-n junctions between superconductors with a low density of mobile charge carriers, such as the high-Tc cuprates. It is predicted that most of such contacts are damped Josephon tunnel junctions with low critical current-normal-state resistance products due to a depletion layer at the interface. With increasing current bias the characteristics of the junctions exhibit a gradual transition to Esaki-diode behavior. Similar depletion layers may result in low critical currents at high-Tc-low-Tc junctions. © 1993.