arXiv subjects

Abhiram Soori

Publications and source records attributed to Abhiram Soori.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Decoherence in electron transport: back-scattering, effect on interference and rectification

Decoherence is an undesirable, but ubiquitous phenomenon in quantum systems. Here, we study the effect of partial decoherence, induced via a Büttiker probe, on two-terminal electronic transport across one-dimensional quantum wires and rings, in both the linear and non-linear regimes. We find that dephasing causes backscattering when introduced locally in a ballistic channel. Further, we find that decoherence results in rectification when inversion is broken in the two-terminal transport set-up by a combination of a local dephasing centre and a static impurity. Interestingly, the rectification strength and even its direction varies strongly with the relative distance between the probe and the scatterer. We further analyze how decoherence affects characteristic quantum effects in electronic transport, such as, Fabry-Pérot oscillations in double-barrier setups, and Aharonov-Bohm interference in one-dimensional rings, and find that the amplitude of oscillations in conductance is reduced by decoherence.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Majorana fermions in Kitaev chains side-coupled to normal metals

Majorana fermions, exotic particles with potential applications in quantum computing, have garnered significant interest in condensed matter physics. The Kitaev model serves as a fundamental framework for investigating the emergence of Majorana fermions in one-dimensional systems. We explore the intriguing question of whether Majorana fermions can arise in a normal metal (NM) side-coupled to a Kitaev chain (KC) in the topologically trivial phase. Our findings reveal affirmative evidence, further demonstrating that the KC, when in the topological phase, can induce additional Majorana fermions in the neighboring NM region. Through extensive parameter analysis, we uncover the potential for zero, one, or two pairs of Majorana fermions in a KC side-coupled to an NM. Additionally, we investigate the impact of magnetic flux on the system and calculate the winding number -a topological invariant used to characterize topological phases.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Josephson diode effect in junctions of superconductors with band asymmetric metals

At interfaces connecting two superconductors (SCs) separated by a metallic layer, an electric current is induced when there is a disparity in the phases of the two superconductors. We elucidate this phenomenon based on the weights of the Andreev bound states associated with the states carrying current in forward and reverse directions. Typically, current phase relation (CPR) in Josephson junctions is an odd function. When time reversal and inversion symmetries are broken at the junction, CPR ceases to be an odd function and the system may exhibit Josephson diode effect. This phenomenon has been studied in spin orbit coupled systems under an external Zeeman field wherein the magnetochiral anisotropy is responsible for the Josephson diode effect. Recently introduced the band asymmetric metal (BAM) model presents a novel avenue, featuring an asymmetric band structure. We investigate DC Josephson effect in SC-BAM-SC junctions and find that band asymmetry can lead to Josephson diode effect and anomalous Josephson effect. We explain the mechanism behind these effects based on interference of plane wave modes within the Bogoliubov de-Genne formalism. We calculate diode effect coefficient for different values of the parameters.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Crossed Andreev reflection in altermagnets

Crossed Andreev reflection (CAR) is a scattering phenomenon occurring in a superconductor (SC) connected to two metallic leads, where an incident electron on one side of the SC emerges on the opposite side as a hole. Despite its significance, CAR detection is often impeded by the prevalent electron tunneling (ET), wherein the incident electron exits on the opposing side as an electron. One approach to augment CAR over ET involves employing two antiparallel ferromagnets across the SC. However, this method is constrained by the low polarization in ferromagnets and necessitates the application of a magnetic field. Altermagnets (AMs) present a promising avenue for detecting and enhancing CAR due to their distinct Fermi surfaces for the two spins. Here, we propose a configuration utilizing two AMs rotated by $90^{\circ}$ with respect to each other on either side of an SC to enhance CAR. We calculate local and nonlocal conductivities across the AM-SC-AM junction using the Landauer-Büttiker scattering approach. Our findings reveal that in the strong phase of AMs, CAR overwhelmingly dominates nonlocal transport. In the weak phase, CAR can exhibit significant enhancement for larger values of the altermagnetic parameter compared to the scenario where AMs are in the normal metallic phase. As a function of the length of the SC, the conductivities exhibit oscillations reminiscent of Fabry-Pérot interference.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Fabry-Pérot interference in Josephson junctions

Conductance of metallic heterostructures can be controlled by applying a gate voltage to a region in the transport channel. For sufficiently long phase coherent channels, oscillations appear in conductance versus chemical potential plot, which can be explained by Fabry-Pérot interference. In this work, we study DC Josephson effect in a superconductor-normal metal-superconductor junctions. The chemical potential of the normal metal (NM) region can be tuned by an applied gate voltage. We numerically obtain the Andreev bound states formed within the superconducting gap and calculate Josephson current by summing up the currents carried by the occupied Andreev bound states. We find that the Josephson current oscillates as a function of the chemical potential in the NM region, and these oscillations can be explained by Fabry-Pérot interference condition. We find that Josephson current carried by one bound state can be higher than that carried by two or more bound states.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Transport across junctions of altermagnets with normal metals and ferromagnets

Altermagnet (AM) is a novel time reversal symmetry broken magnetic phase with $d$-wave order which has been experimentally realized recently. We discuss theoretical models of altermagnet based systems on lattice and in continuum. We show equivalence between the lattice and continuum models by mapping the respective parameters. We study (i) altermagnet-normal metal (NM) and (ii) altermagnet-ferromagnet (FM) junctions, with the aim to quantify transport properties such as conductivity and magnetoresistance. We find that a spin current accompanies charge current when a bias is applied. The magnetoresistance of AM-FM junction switches sign when AM is rotated by $90^{\circ}$ -- a feature unique to the altermagnetic phase.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Transverse currents in spin transistors

In many systems, planar Hall effect wherein transverse signal appears in response to longitudinal stimulus is rooted in spin-orbit coupling. A spin transistor put forward by Datta and Das on the other hand consists of ferromagnetic leads connected to spin-orbit coupled central region and its conductance can be controlled by tuning the strength of spin-orbit coupling. We find that transverse currents also appear in Datta-Das transistors made by connecting two two-dimensional ferromagnetic reservoirs to a central spin-orbit coupled two-dimensional electron gas. We find that the spin transistor exhibits a nonzero transverse conductivity which depends on the direction of polarization in ferromagnets and the location where it is measured. We study the conductivities for the system with finite and infinite widths. The conductivities exhibit Fabry-Pérot type oscillations as the length of the spin-orbit coupled regions is varied. Interestingly, even in the limit when longitudinal conductivity is made zero by cutting off the junction between the central spin-orbit coupled region and the ferromagnetic lead on one side (right), the transverse conductivities remain nonzero in the regions that are on the left side of the cut-off junction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Nonequilibrium Josephson diode effect in periodically driven SNS junctions

In typical Josephson junctions, the Josephson current is an odd function of the superconducting phase difference. Recently, diode effect in Josephson junctions is observed in experiments wherein the maximum and the minimum values of the Josephson current in the current-phase relation do not have the same magnitude. We propose a superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) junction where Josephson diode effect manifests when the normal metal region is driven. Time reversal symmetry and inversion symmetry need to be broken in the SNS junction for the diode effect to show up. We calculate long time averaged current and show that the system exhibits diode effect for two configurations of the driven SNS junction - one in which inversion symmetry is broken in the undriven part of the Hamiltonian and the other wherein both the symmetries are broken by the driving potential. In the latter configuration, a nonzero current known as anomalous current appears at the junction in absence of phase bias. In the proposed setup, the diode effect vanishes in the adiabatic limit.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Scattering in quantum wires and junctions of quantum wires with edge states of quantum spin Hall insulators

An integral part of scattering theory calculations in continuum quantum systems involves identifying appropriate boundary conditions in addition to writing down the correct Hamiltonian. In the simplest problem of scattering in one dimensional lattice, scattering due to an on-site potential and scattering due to an unequal bond (in otherwise translationally invariant lattice) give different results for scattering amplitudes. While the scattering problems in the continuum and the lattice models can be mapped to one another for scattering due to on-site potential, the equivalent continuum model for scattering due to an unequal bond is missing. We introduce a new parameter $c$ in the boundary condition of the continuum model that is equivalent to scattering due to an unequal bond on the lattice. Further, we study a junction between a normal metal quantum wire and a one dimensional edge of quantum spin Hall insulator (QSHI) in continuum using the parameter $c$. In the case of a junction between a normal metal quantum wire and the edge of QSHI, we identify the boundary condition that permits maximum transmission. Further, we solve the scattering problem between the junction of quantum wire and QSHI using a lattice model and map it to continuum model results. The problem of transport between four channels of spinful normal metal quantum wire and two channels of QSHI edge is not well-defined. We rectify this situation by formulating the scattering problem in terms of a junction of a semi-infinite normal metal quantum wire with an infinite edge of QSHI, gapping out one semi-infinite section of the QSHI edge by a Zeeman field and applying an appropriate boundary condition at the junction. We calculate the scattering amplitudes analytically.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Anomalous Josephson effect and rectification in junctions between Floquet topological superconductors

Periodically driven Kitaev chains are known to exhibit novel Floquet Majorana fermions and anomalous Floquet end modes. The fact that `quasienergy in Floquet systems is periodic' poses a difficulty in defining the ground state in periodically driven systems. To overcome this problem, we start with the ground state of the undriven Kitaev chain and gradually switch on the periodic driving in chemical potential over a timescale $τ$. The extent to which the single particle eigenstates of the undriven system get distributed among the Floquet states upon driving can be characterized by inverse participation ratio. In a Josephson junction between two periodically driven Kitaev chains not differing in phase of the pair potentials but differing in phases of the driving potentials, a net average current flows from one superconductor to the other. We term such a current anomalous current. Further, we study current phase relation in junctions between two periodically driven superconductors and find that the system exhibits nonequilibrium Josephson diode effect. The Floquet Majorana end modes and anomalous Floquet end modes whenever present contribute significantly to the anomalous current and the diode effect. Further, the anomalous current and the nonequilibrium Josephson diode effect survive when the periodic driving is adiabatically switched on.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Transmission across non-Hermitian $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum dots and ladders

A non-Hermitian region connected to semi-infinite Hermitian lattices acts either as a source or as a sink and the probability current is not conserved in a scattering typically. Even a $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric region that contains both a source and a sink does not lead to current conservation plainly. We propose a model and study the scattering across a non-Hermitian $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric two-level quantum dot~(QD) connected to two semi-infinite one-dimensional lattices in a special way so that the probability current is conserved. Aharonov-Bohm type phases are included in the model, which arise from magnetic fluxes ($\hbarϕ_{L} /e,~\hbarϕ_{R} /e$) through two loops in the system. We show that when $ϕ_L=ϕ_R$, the probability current is conserved. We find that the transmission across the QD can be perfect in the $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-unbroken phase (corresponding to real eigenenergies of the isolated QD) whereas the transmission is never perfect in the $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-broken phase (corresponding to purely imaginary eigenenergies of the QD). The two transmission peaks have the same width only for special values of the fluxes (being odd multiples of $π\hbar/2e$). In the broken phase, the transmission peak is surprisingly not at zero energy. We give an insight into this feature through a four-site toy model. We extend the model to a $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric ladder connected to two semi-infinite lattices. We show that the transmission is perfect in unbroken phase of the ladder due to Fabry-Pérot type interference, that can be controlled by tuning the chemical potential. In the broken phase of the ladder, the transmission is substantially suppressed.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Tunable crossed Andreev reflection in a heterostructure consisting of ferromagnets, normal metal and superconductors

Crossed Andreev reflection (CAR) is a nonlocal transport phenomenon in a system of two normal metal (NM) leads connected to a superconductor (SC) that converts the electron like excitations in one metallic lead into hole like excitations in the other metallic lead. The scattering phenomena viz. electron tunneling (ET), electron reflection (ER) and Andreev reflection (AR) compete with CAR and reduce the probability of CAR generically. One of the experimentally realized proposals to observe CAR is to employ two ferromagnetic (FM) leads in antiparallel configuration connected to the SC by suppressing ET and AR. But CAR probability cannot be tuned in this setup. We propose a setup consisting of a gate tunable NM region connected to two superconducting regions on either side which are connected to FM leads further away in antiparallel configuration, in which probabilities of CAR and ER can be changed from $0$ to $1$ by a changing the gate voltage applied to the NM region. The gate voltage applied to the NM region dictates the chemical potential of the NM region and gives a handle on the Fabry-Pérot interference of the electron and hole modes in the NM region. We calculate differential transconductance for the proposed setup which can be tuned across the range $0$ to $-e^2/h$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Nonadiabatic charge pumping across two superconductors connected through a normal metal region by periodically driven potentials

Periodically driven systems exhibit resonance when the difference between an excited state energy and the ground state energy is an integer multiple of $\hbar$ times the driving frequency. On the other hand, when a superconducting phase difference is maintained between two superconductors, subgap states appear which carry a Josephson current. A driven Josephson junction therefore opens up an interesting avenue where the excitations due to applied driving affect the current flowing from one superconductor to the other. Motivated by this, we study charge transport in a superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) junction where oscillating potentials are applied to the normal metal region. We find that for small amplitudes of the oscillating potential, driving at one site reverses the direction of current at the superconducting phase differences when difference between the subgap eigenenergies of the undriven Hamiltonian is integer multiple of $\hbar$ times the driving frequency. For larger amplitudes of oscillating potential, driving at one site exhibits richer features. We show that even when the two superconductors are maintained at same superconducting phase, a current can be driven by applying oscillating potentials to two sites in the normal metal differing by a phase. We find that when there is a nonzero Josephson current in the undriven system, the local peaks and valleys in current of the system driven with an amplitude of oscillating potential smaller than the superconducting gap indicates sharp excitations in the system. In the adiabatic limit, we find that charge transferred in one time period diverges as a powerlaw with pumping frequency when a Josephson current flows in the undriven system. Our calculations are exact and can be applied to finite systems. We discuss possible experimental setups where our predictions can be tested.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Finite transverse conductance and anisotropic magnetoconductance under an applied in-plane magnetic field in two-dimensional electron gases with strong spin-orbit coupling

The current in response to a bias in certain two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), can have a nonzero transverse component under a finite magnetic field applied in the plane where electrons are confined. This phenomenon known as planar Hall effect is accompanied by dependencies of both the longitudinal and the transverse components of the current on the angle $ϕ$ between the bias direction and the magnetic field. In 2DEG with spin orbit coupling (SOC) such as oxide interfaces, this effect has been experimentally witnessed. Further, a fourfold oscillation in longitudinal resistance as a function of $ϕ$ has also been observed. Motivated by these, we perform scattering theory calculations on a 2DEG with SOC in presence of an in-plane magnetic field connected to two dimensional leads on either sides to obtain longitudinal and transverse conductances. We find that the longitudinal conductance is $π$-periodic and the transverse conductance is $2π$-periodic in $ϕ$. The magnitude of oscillation in transverse conductance with $ϕ$ is enhanced in certain patches in $(α,b)$-plane where $α$ is the strength of SOC and $b$ is Zeeman energy due to magnetic field. The oscillation in transverse conductance with $ϕ$ can be highly multi-fold for large values of $α$ and $b$. The highly multi-fold oscillations of transverse conductance are due to Fabry-Pérot type interference between the modes in the central region as backed by its length dependent features. Our study establishes that SOC in a material is sufficient to observe planar Hall effect without the need for anisotropic magnetic ordering or nontrivial topology of the bandstructure.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Finite transverse conductance in topological insulators under an applied in-plane magnetic field

Recently, in topological insulators (TIs) the phenomenon of planar Hall effect (PHE) wherein a current driven in presence an in-plane magnetic field generates a transverse voltage has been experimentally witnessed. There have been a couple of theoretical explanations of this phenomenon. We investigate this phenomenon based on scattering theory on a normal metal-TI-normal metal hybrid structure and calculate the conductances in longitudinal and transverse directions to the applied bias. The transverse conductance depends on the spatial location between the two NM-TI junctions where it is calculated. It is zero in the drain electrode when the chemical potentials of the top and the bottom TI surfaces ($μ_t$ and $μ_b$ respectively) are equal. The longitudinal conductance is $π$-periodic in $ϕ$-the angle between the bias direction and the direction of the in-plane magnetic field. The transverse conductance is $π$-periodic in $ϕ$ when $μ_t=μ_b$ whereas it is $2π$-periodic in $ϕ$ when $μ_t\neqμ_b$. As a function of the magnetic field, the magnitude of transverse conductance increases initially and peaks. At higher magnetic fields, it decays for angles $ϕ$ closer to $0,π$ whereas oscillates for angles $ϕ$ close to $π/2$. The conductances oscillate with the length of the TI region. A finite width of the system makes the transport separate into finitely many channels. The features of the conductances are similar to those in the limit of infinitely wide system except when the width is so small that only one channel participates in the transport. When only one channel participates in transport, the transverse conductance in the region $0 L$ is zero even for the case $μ_t\neqμ_b$. We understand the features in the obtained results.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

DC Josephson effect in superconductor-quantum dot-superconductor junctions

A quantum dot weakly coupled to two normal metal leads exhibits resonant transmission when one of the dot energy levels lies within the applied bias window. But when the quantum dot is sidecoupled to the transport channel, transmission in the channel is suppressed when a dot energy lies in the bias window. A steady current can also be driven in a transport channel by connecting it to superconducting reservoirs and applying a Josephson phase difference instead of a voltage bias. An interesting question is to investigate the transport across quantum dot connected to two superconductors maintained at a superconducting phase difference. To incorporate the geometry where quantum dot is sidecoupled, we consider a quantum dot with two sites connected to the superconductors in two geometrical configurations: (A) the one where both the sites are in the transport channel and (B) the other where only one site is in the transport channel and the second site sidecoupled. We find that both the configurations show resonant transmission for Josephson current and give qualitatively same result when the onsite energies of the two sites in the dot are equal. The two configurations exhibit distinct Josephson current characteristics when the onsite energies of the two sites are equal in magnitude and opposite in sign. We understand the obtained results. The systems studied are within the reach of current experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Probing nonlocality of Majorana fermions in Josephson junctions of Kitaev chains connected to normal metal leads

Kitaev chain (KC) is a prototypical model for the study of Majorana fermions (MFs). In the topological phase, a KC hosts two MFs at its ends. Being separated in space, these two MFs are nonlocal. The nonlocal transport in a KC biased between two normal metal leads is mediated by electron tunneling (ET) and crossed Andreev reflection (CAR). ET contributes positively while CAR contributes negatively to the nonlocal conductance. Enhanced CAR and hence a negative nonlocal conductance is a hallmark of nonlocality of MFs. But simple conductance measurements in the above setup cannot probe the nonlocality of MFs due to the almost cancellation of currents from ET and CAR. On the other hand, a Josephson junction between two KCs hosts two Andreev bound states (ABSs) at the junction formed by a recombination of Majorana fermions of the individual KCs. The energies of the ABSs are away from zero and can be changed by altering the superconducting phase difference. A Josephson junction between two finitely long KCs hosts two MFs at the two ends and two ABSs at the junction. We show that when normal metal leads are connected to two ends of such a Josephson junction, the nonlocal conductance of the setup can be negative for bias values equal to the energies of the ABSs. Thus the nonlocal conductance in such setup can probe the nonlocality of the constituent MFs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Enhanced shot noise at bilayer graphene -- superconductor junction

Transport properties of graphene - superconductor junction has been studied extensively to understand the interplay of the relativistic Dirac quasiparticles and superconductivity. Though shot noise measurements in graphene has been performed to realize many theoretical predictions, both at zero magnetic field as well as quantum Hall (QH) regime, its junction with superconductor remain unexplored. Here, we have carried out the shot noise measurements in an edge contacted bilayer graphene - Niobium superconductor junction at zero magnetic field as well as QH regime. At the Dirac point we have observed a Fano factor ~ 1/3 above the superconducting gap and a transition to an enhanced Fano factor ~ 0.5 below the superconducting gap. By changing the carrier density we have found a continuous reduction of Fano factor for both types of carriers, however the enhancement of Fano factor within the superconducting gap by a factor of ~ 1.5 is always preserved. The enhancement of shot noise is also observed in the QH regime, where the current is carried by the edge state, below the critical magnetic field and within the superconducting gap. These observations clearly demonstrate the enhanced charge transport at the graphene-superconductor interface.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗