Enhancement of Shapiro-like steps in multiterminal Josephson structures

• An adiabatic approach was developed to the theory of ac Josephson effect in mesoscopic multiterminal structures.
• Different types of Shapiro-like steps were predicted and calculated analytically in a three-terminal Josephson system for the limit of small junction transparencies.
• The special resonance conditions and corresponding excess of Shapiro-like steps were found out.
• The possible applications of our results for the experimental observation of the Shapiro-like steps in multiterminal Josephson structures were discussed.

The distinctive features of current–voltage characteristics are studied for mesoscopic multiterminal structures effected by external irradiation. Considering a simple model of applied dc+ac voltage, we calculate Shapiro-like steps in Josephson systems with several weakly coupled superconducting electrodes. Owing to the action of an external alternating signal, the dc current is found to be rather increased than it appears in the same multiterminal Josephson node without the radiation. The possible applications of our results for the experimental observation of the Shapiro-like steps in such Josephson structures are discussed.