Identifying the odd-frequency pairing state of superconductors by a field-induced Josephson effect

Superconducting order parameters that are odd under exchange of time coordinates of the electrons constituting a Cooper pair are potentially of great importance both conceptually and technologically. Recent experiments report that such an odd-frequency superconducting bulk state may be realized in certain heavy-fermion compounds. While the Josephson current normally only flows between superconductors with the same symmetries with respect to frequency, we demonstrate that an exchange field may induce a current between diffusive even- and odd-frequency superconductors. This suggests a way to identify the possible existence of bulk odd-frequency superconductors.