Magnetic field dependence of the critical current in YBa2Cu3O7−δ bicrystal grain boundary junctions

We have performed a detailed study of the magnetic field dependence of the critical current, Ic(B), of YBa2Cu3O7−δ bicrystal grain boundary junctions (GBJs). GBJs with width W much larger than the Josephson penetration depth λJ show Ic(B) dependencies that are close to those of ideal large Josephson junctions with overlap geometry. The Ic(B) dependencies are symmetrical with respect to B=0 and Ic decreases linearly with increasing applied magnetic field for B≤BJ1, where BJ1 is the lower critical field of the GBJ. Furthermore, Ic(B=0) increases linearly with increasing width of the GBJs as expected for Josephson junctions with overlap geometry. From the measured Ic(B) dependencies the temperature dependence of BJ1 and the London penetration depth could be derived.