Critical currents in Josephson junctions with macroscopic defects

The critical current in Josephson junctions of conventional superconductors with macroscopic defects is calculated for different defect critical current densities as a function of the magnetic field. We also study the evolution of the different modes with the defect position, at zero external field. We study the stability of the solutions and derive simple arguments, that could help the defect characterization. In most cases a re-entrant behaviour is seen, where both a maximum and a minimum current exist. (author)