Towards the quantitative theory of the high-Tc Josephson junctions

This paper discusses the possible reasons leading to reduction of the characteristic voltage Vc of the HTS Josephson junctions. It is emphasized that the electron scattering at the SN boundaries plays a decisive role in HTS weak links. The rough estimations of the parameter γB describing the SN boundary transparency have been done. The calculations of the properties of the SNS sandwiches, variable thickness bridges, and SNIS' tunnel junctions within the framework of the BCS-based theories of the Josephson effect have been carried out using adequate models taking into account the low transparency of HTS/N-metal interfaces and possible values of their IcRN product are estimated