Interfacial pair breaking and planar weak links with an anharmonic current-phase relation

Theoretical studies of planar superconducting junctions with a strong Josephson coupling and a significant reduction of the condensate density near the interlayer owing to the proximity effect have been reviewed. The self-consistent description of such systems within the Ginzburg-Landau theory shows that the junctions under consideration represent weak links and their properties are determined primarily by depairing induced by the interlayer and current. The critical current, anharmonic current-phase relation, magnetic field penetration depth into a junction, modulation of the supercurrent by the magnetic field, and structure of a Josephson vortex have been found as functions of the Josephson coupling constant and depairing effect near the interlayer.