Quasiparticle current and phase locking of intrinsic Josephson junctions

On the base of our experiments on thin film Josephson junctions in mesa geometry we discuss the quasiparticle branches of the intrinsic arrays within a tunnelling model using d-wave superconductor density of states. We find temperature dependent current contributions and a zero bias anomaly. The coherent behaviour is studied for intrinsic arrays with an additional side-wall shunt. The existence of thresholds of phase locking at small as well as at large inductances is demonstrated. We discuss the problems with experimental realisation of the shunts as well as with an alternative concept to enhance phase locking in such arrays towards application as oscillators in the frequency range up to some THz. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.