arXiv · 1603.08736
Fingerprint of topological Andreev bound states in phase-dependent heat transport
Abstract
We demonstrate that phase-dependent heat currents through superconductor-topological insulator Josephson junctions provide a useful tool to probe the existence of topological Andreev bound states, even for multi-channel surface states. We predict that in the tunneling regime topological Andreev bound states lead to a minimum of the thermal conductance for a phase difference $ϕ=π$, in clear contrast to a maximum of the thermal conductance at $ϕ=π$ that occurs for trivial Andreev bound states in superconductor-normal metal tunnel junctions. This opens up the possibility that phase-dependent heat transport can distinguish between topologically trivial and nontrivial 4$π$ modes. Furthermore, we propose a superconducting quantum interference device geometry where phase-dependent heat currents can be measured using available experimental technology.
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Björn Sothmann, Ewelina M. Hankiewicz. 2016-08-16. Fingerprint of topological Andreev bound states in phase-dependent heat transport. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.94.081407
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