arXiv subjects

A. Levy Yeyati

Publications and source records attributed to A. Levy Yeyati.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Electron-phonon interaction and full counting statistics in molecular junctions

The full counting statistics of a molecular level weakly interacting with a local phonon mode is derived. We find an analytic formula that gives the behavior of arbitrary irreducible moments of the distribution upon phonon excitation. The underlying competition between quasi-elastic and inelastic processes results in the formation of domains in parameter space characterized by a given sign in the jump of the irreducible moments. In the limit of perfect transmission, the corresponding distribution is distorted from Gaussian statistics for electrons to Poissonian transfer of holes above the inelastic threshold.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Self-consistent microscopic calculations for non-local transport through nanoscale superconductors

We implement self-consistent microscopic calculations in order to describe out-of-equilibrium non-local transport in normal metal-superconductor-normal metal hybrid structures in the presence of a magnetic field and for arbitrary interface transparencies. A four terminal setup simulating usual experimental situations is described by means of a tight-binding model. We present results for the self-consistent order parameter and current profiles within the sample. These profiles illustrate a crossover from a quasi-equilibrium to a strong non-equilibrium situation when increasing the interface transparencies and the applied voltages. We analyze in detail the behavior of the non-local conductance in these two different regimes. While in quasi-equilibrium conditions this can be expressed as the difference between elastic cotunneling and crossed Andreev transmission coefficients, in a general situation additional contributions due to the voltage dependence of the self-consistent order parameter have to be taken into account. The present results provide a first step towards a self-consistent theory of non-local transport including non-equilibrium effects and describe qualitatively a recent experiment [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 237003 (2006)].

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Long range crossed Andreev reflections in high Tc superconductors

We analyze the non-local transport properties of a d-wave superconductor coupled to metallic electrodes at nanoscale distances. We show that the non-local conductance exhibits an algebraical decay with distance rather than the exponential behavior which is found in conventional superconductors. Crossed Andreev processes, associated with electronic entanglement, are favored for certain orientations of the symmetry axes of the superconductor with respect to the leads. These properties would allow its experimental detection using present technologies.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Interpolative approach for electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions: from the Kondo to the polaronic regime

We present a theoretical approach to determine the electronic properties of nanoscale systems exhibiting strong electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions and coupled to metallic electrodes. This approach is based on an interpolative ansatz for the electronic self-energy which becomes exact both in the limit of weak and strong coupling to the electrodes. The method provides a generalization of previous interpolative schemes which have been applied to the purely electronic case extensively. As a test case we consider the single level Anderson-Holstein model. The results obtained with the interpolative ansatz are in good agreement with existing data from Numerical Renormalization Group calculations. We also check our results by considering the case of the electrodes represented by a few discrete levels which can be diagonalized exactly. The approximation describes properly the transition from the Kondo regime where electron-electron interactions dominate to the polaronic case characterized by a strong electron-phonon interaction.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Josephson effect through a quantum dot array

We analyze the ground state properties of an array of quantum dots connected in series between superconducting electrodes. This system is represented by a finite Hubbard chain coupled at both ends to BCS superconductors. The ground state is obtained using the Lanczos algorithm within a low energy theory in which the bulk superconductors are replaced by effective local pairing potentials. We study the conditions for the inversion of the sign of the Josephson coupling ($π$-junction behavior) as a function of the model parameters. Results are presented in the form of phase diagrams which provide a direct overall view of the general trends as the size of the system is increased, exhibiting a strong even-odd effect. The analysis of the spin-spin correlation functions and local charges give further insight into the nature of the ground state and how it is transformed by the presence of superconductivity in the leads. Finally we study the scaling of the Josephson current with the system size and relate these results with previous calculations of Josephson transport through a Luttinger liquid.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

Even-odd effect in Andreev Transport through a Carbon Nanotube Quantum Dot

We have measured the current(I)-voltage(V) characteristics of a single-wall carbon nanotube quantum dot coupled to superconducting source and drain contacts in the intermediate coupling regime. Whereas the enhanced differential conductance dI/dV due to the Kondo resonance is observed in the normal state, this feature around zero bias voltage is absent in the superconducting state. Nonetheless, a pronounced even-odd effect appears at finite bias in the $dI/dV$ sub-gap structure caused by Andreev reflection. The first-order Andreev peak appearing around V=Δ/e is markedly enhanced in gate-voltage regions, in which the charge state of the quantum dot is odd. This enhancement is explained by a `hidden' Kondo resonance, pinned to one contact only. A comparison with a single-impurity Anderson model, which is solved numerically in a slave-boson meanfield ansatz, yields good agreement with the experiment.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Reversing non-local transport through a superconductor by electromagnetic excitations

Superconductors connected to normal metallic electrodes at the nanoscale provide a potential source of non-locally entangled electron pairs. Such states would arise from Cooper pairs splitting into two electrons with opposite spins tunnelling into different leads. In an actual system the detection of these processes is hindered by the elastic transmission of individual electrons between the leads, yielding an opposite contribution to the non-local conductance. Here we show that electromagnetic excitations on the superconductor can play an important role in altering the balance between these two processes, leading to a dominance of one upon the other depending on the spatial symmetry of these excitations. These findings allow to understand some intriguing recent experimental results and open the possibility to control non-local transport through a superconductor by an appropriate design of the experimental geometry.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Subharmonic gap structure in short ballistic graphene junctions

We present a theoretical analysis of the current-voltage characteristics of a ballistic superconductor-normal-superconductor (SNS) junction, in which a strip of graphene is coupled to two superconducting electrodes. We focus in the short-junction regime, where the length of the strip is much smaller than superconducting coherence length. We show that the differential conductance exhibits a very rich subharmonic gap structure which can be modulated by means of a gate voltage. On approaching the Dirac point the conductance normalized by the normal-state conductance is identical to that of a short diffusive SNS junction.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Interplay between Josephson effect and magnetic interactions in double quantum dots

We analyze the magnetic and transport properties of a double quantum dot coupled to superconducting leads. In addition to the possible phase transition to a $π$ state, already present in the single dot case, this system exhibits a richer magnetic behavior due to the competition between Kondo and inter-dot antiferromagnetic coupling. We obtain results for the Josephson current which may help to understand recent experiments on superconductor-metallofullerene dimer junctions. We show that in such a system the Josephson effect can be used to control its magnetic configuration.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Universal features of electron-phonon interactions in atomic wires

The effect of electron-phonon interactions in the conductance through metallic atomic wires is theoretically analyzed. The proposed model allows to consider an atomic size region electrically and mechanically coupled to bulk electrodes. We show that under rather general conditions the features due to electron-phonon coupling are described by universal functions of the system transmission coefficients. It is predicted that the reduction of the conductance due to electron-phonon coupling which is observed close to perfect transmission should evolve into an enhancement at low transmission. This crossover can be understood in a transparent way as arising from the competition between elastic and inelastic processes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Inverse proximity effect in superconductor-ferromagnet structures: From the ballistic to the diffusive limit

The inverse proximity effect, i.e. the induction of a magnetic moment in the superconductor in superconductor-ferromagnet (S/F) junctions is studied theoretically. We present a microscopic approach which combines a model Hamiltonian with elements of the well established quasiclassical theory. With its help we study systems with arbitrary degree of disorder, interface transparency and thickness of the layers. In the diffusive limit we recover the result of previous works: the direction of the induced magnetization $M$ is opposite to the one of the F layer. However, we show that in the ballistic case the sign of $M$ may be positive or negative depending on the quality of the interface and thickness of the layers. {We show that, regardless of its sign, the penetration length of the magnetic moment into the superconductor is of the order of the superconductor coherence length, which demonstrates that the effect has a superconducting origin.}

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Distribution of conduction channels in nanoscale contacts: Evolution towards the diffusive limit

We present an experimental determination of the conduction channel distribution in lead nanoscale contacts with total conductances ranging from 1 to 15 G0, where G0=2e2/h. It is found that even for contacts having a cross section much smaller than the mean free path the distribution tends to be remarkably close to the universal diffusive limit. With the help of theoretical calculations we show that this behavior can be associated with the specific band structure of lead which produces a significant contribution of partially open channels even in the absence of atomic disorder. Published in Europhysics Letters, http://www.edpsciences.org/articles/epl/abs/2005/11/epl8748/epl8748.html

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Dynamical Coulomb blockade of multiple Andreev reflections

We analyze the dynamical Coulomb blockade of multiple Andreev reflections (MAR) in a superconducting quantum point contact coupled to a macroscopic impedance. We find that at very low transmission the blockade scales as $n^2$ with $n = {Int}(2Δ/eV)$, where $V$ is the bias voltage and $Δ$ is the superconducting gap, as it would correspond to the occurrence of "shots" of charge $ne$. For higher transmission the blockade is reduced both due to Pauli principle and to elastic renormalization of the MAR probability, and for certain voltage regions it may even become an "antiblockade", i.e. the current is enhanced due to the coupling with the electromagnetic environment.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Phase diffusion and fractional Shapiro steps in superconducting quantum point contacts

We study the influence of classical phase diffusion on the fractional Shapiro steps in resistively shunted superconducting quantum point contacts. The problem is mapped onto a Smoluchowski equation with a time dependent potential. A numerical solution for the probability density of the phase difference between the leads gives access to the mean current and the mean voltage across the contact. Analytical solutions are derived in some limiting cases. We find that the effect of temperature is stronger on fractional than on integer steps, in accordance with preliminary experimental findings. We further extend the analysis to a more general environment including two resistances and a finite capacitance.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Different wavelength oscillations in the conductance of 5d metal atomic chains

Combining ab-initio and self-consistent parametrized tight-binding calculations we analyze the conductance properties of atomic chains of 5d elements like Au, Pt and Ir. It is shown that, in addition to the even-odd parity oscillations characteristic of Au, conduction channels associated with the almost full d bands in Pt and Ir give rise to longer periods which could be observed in sufficiently long chains. The results for short chains are in good agreement with recent experimental measurements.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Conductance properties of nanotubes coupled to superconducting leads: signatures of Andreev states dynamics

We present a combined experimental and theoretical analysis of the low bias conductance properties of carbon nanotubes coupled to superconducting leads. In the Kondo regime the conductance exhibits a zero bias peak which can be several times larger than the unitary limit in the normal case. This zero bias peak can be understood by analyzing the dynamics of the subgap Andreev states under an applied bias voltage. It is shown that the existence of a linear regime is linked to the presence of a finite relaxation rate within the system. The theory provides a good fitting of the experimental results.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Non-equilibrium dynamics of Andreev states in the Kondo regime

The transport properties of a quantum dot coupled to superconducting leads are analyzed. It is shown that the quasiparticle current in the Kondo regime is determined by the non-equilibrium dynamics of subgap states (Andreev states) under an applied voltage. The current at low bias is suppressed exponentially for decreasing Kondo temperature in agreement with recent experiments. We also predict novel interference effects due to multiple Landau-Zener transitions between Andreev states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

Josephson Current through a correlated quantum level: Andreev states and Pi-junction behavior

The Josephson transport and the electronic properties of a quantum dot characterized by a single level coupled to superconducting leads is analyzed. Different approximations are used and compared: the mean field approximation, the second order perturbation theory in the Coulomb interaction and the exact diagonalization in the zero band-width limit. The system exhibits a rich behavior as a function of the relevant parameters. We discuss in detail the conditions for the observation of Pi-junction behavior and the effect of Coulomb interactions on the Andreev states.

cond-mat↗