Long-range phase coherence and tunable second order φ₀-Josephson effect in a Dirac semimetal 1T-PtTe₂

Superconducting diode effects have recently attracted much attention for their potential applications in superconducting logic circuits. Several pathways have been proposed to give rise to non-reciprocal critical currents in various superconductors and Josephson junctions. In this work, we establish the presence of a large Josephson diode effect in a type-II Dirac semimetal 1T-PtTe₂ facilitated by its helical spin-momentum locking and distinguish it from extrinsic geometric effects. The magnitude of the Josephson diode effect is shown to be directly correlated to the large second-harmonic component of the supercurrent. We denote such junctions, where the relative phase between the two harmonics can be tuned by a magnetic field, as ‘tunable second order φ₀-junctions’. The direct correspondence between the second harmonic supercurrents and the diode effect in 1T-PtTe₂ junctions at relatively low magnetic fields makes it an ideal platform to study the Josephson diode effect and Cooper quartet transport in Josephson junctions.