arXiv · 0802.0586
Supergap anomalies in cotunneling between N-S and between S-S leads via a small quantum dot
Abstract
Cotunneling current through a resonant level coupled to either normal and superconducting or to two superconducting leads is studied for the domain of bias voltages, V, exceeding the superconducting gap, 2Δ. Due to the on-site repulsion in the resonant level, cotunneling of an electron is accompanied by creation of a quasiparticle in a superconducting lead. Energy conservation imposes a threshold for this inelastic transport channel: V_c=3Δfor N-S case and \tilde{V}_c=4Δfor the S-S case. We demonstrate that the behavior of current near the respective thresholds is nonanalytic, namely, δI^{in}(V)\propto (V-V_c)^{3/2}Θ(V-V_c) and δI^{in}(V) \propto (V-\tilde{V}_c)Θ(V-\tilde{V}_c). Stronger anomaly for the S-S leads is the consequence of the enhanced density of states at the edges of the gap. In addition, the enhanced density of states makes the threshold anomalies for two-electron cotunneling processes in the Coulomb-blockaded regions more pronounced than for the N-N leads.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
V. V. Mkhitaryan, M. E. Raikh. 2008-02-05. Supergap anomalies in cotunneling between N-S and between S-S leads via a small quantum dot. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.77.195329
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.