Kinetic inductance and Coulomb blockade in one dimensional Josephson junction arrays

One dimensional Josephson junction arrays have been fabricated and current- voltage characteristics (IVC) have been measured at cryogenic temperatures. The arrays were fabricated in a SQUID-geometry which allowed an in. situ t uning of thc Josephson energy by application of a magnetic field. The IVC o f thc arrays shows a clear Coulomb blockade state. In the Coulomb blockade regime the IVC are hysteretic, The array is modeled using a Serial resistiv e-inductive-junction model which is able to qualitatively explain the IVC. In this model an inductance of the order of 0.1-10 mH per Junction is neede d to account for the hysteresis. Kinetic inductance. stemming from the iner tia of the Cooper pairs. gives the correct order of magnitude. The problem of self-heating is also discussed as an alternative explanation of the hyst eresis.