arXiv · 2508.03219
Quantum Bipolar Thermoelectricity
Abstract
Thermoelectricity is generally understood as a classical effect emerging from energy-dependent transport asymmetries. Here we uncover a purely quantum mechanism, where a superconducting S-I-S' tunnel junction in thermal equilibrium develops a nonlinear bipolar thermoelectric response owing to the dynamical Coulomb blockade and the emission-absorption imbalance of a cold electromagnetic bath. Two representative environments are analysed, revealing Seebeck coefficients up to 100 $\mu$V/K for realistic junction parameters. Because the response directly reflects the spectral properties of the surrounding environment, our results suggest that bipolar quantum thermoelectricity could provide a new route for spectroscopic sensing of electromagnetic modes and for designing low-temperature thermoelectric devices with environmentally engineered performance.
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Filippo Antola, Giorgio De Simoni, Francesco Giazotto, Alessandro Braggio. 2025-08-05. Quantum Bipolar Thermoelectricity. https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.03219
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