Helicity-controlled switching of superconducting states by radiation pulse

Abstract

We provide a theoretical analysis of the possibility of using circularly polarized radiation to switch between two different quantum states of a superconducting nanoring subjected to the half quantum flux. Numerical modeling, performed in the framework of the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equation, reveals the condition for on-demand switching between current-carrying states with different helicities with 100% probability. An experimental demonstration of this effect will be unambiguous evidence of the inverse Faraday effect in superconductors and pave the way for the design of light-operated superconducting devices.