Simulation of I-V hysteresis branches in an intrinsic stack of Josephson junctions in high-T_c superconductors

I-V characteristics of the high-T_c superconductor Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁C₂O₈ shows a strong hysteresis, producing many branches. The origin of hysteresis jumps is studied by use of the model of multilayered Josephson junctions proposed by one of the authors (T.K.). The charging effect at superconducting layers produces a coupling between the next-nearest-neighbor phase differences, which determines the structure of hysteresis branches. It will be shown that a solution of phase motions is understood as a combination of rotating and oscillating phase differences, and that, at points of hysteresis jumps, there occurs a change in the number of rotating phase differences. Effects of dissipation are analyzed. The dissipation in insulating layers works to damp the phase motion itself, while the dissipation in superconducting layers works to damp relative motions of phase differences. Their effects to hysteresis jumps are discussed.