arXiv subjects

Björn Sothmann

Publications and source records attributed to Björn Sothmann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Gate-tunable nonreciprocal thermoelectric effects on the surface states of topological insulators

Thermoelectric devices at the nanoscale offer promising routes for on-chip refrigeration and waste-heat recovery, yet most semiconductor-based implementations suffer from limited tunability and narrow operational ranges. We introduce a highly flexible thermoelectric platform based on a ballistic junction formed by two gate-tunable regions of a topological insulator surface state bridged by a magnetic barrier. We theoretically demonstrate that such device exhibits strong electrical control over both refrigeration and thermoelectric power generation via side gates. We exploit the interplay between strong spin-orbit coupling and magnetism to achieve pronounced nonreciprocal transport, asymmetric cooling and tunable diode-like behavior. To demonstrate experimental feasibility, we further analyze refrigeration efficiency and phonon-limited performance in realistic material settings.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Statistical analysis of electron-induced switching of a spin-crossover complex

Spin-crossover complexes exhibit two stable configurations with distinct spin states. The investigation of these molecules using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy has opened new perspectives for understanding the associated switching mechanisms at the single-molecule level. While the role of tunneling electrons in driving the spin-state switching has been clearly evidenced, the underlying microscopic mechanism is not completely understood. In this study, we investigate the electron-induced switching of [Fe(H$_2$B(pz)(pypz))$_2$] (pz = pyrazole, pypz = pyridylpyrazole) adsorbed on Ag(111). The current time traces show transitions between two current levels corresponding to the two spin states. We extract switching rates from these traces by analyzing waiting-time distributions. Their sample-voltage dependence can be explained within a simple model in which the switching is triggered by a transient charging of the molecule. The comparison between experimental data and theoretical modeling provides estimates for the energies of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, which were so far experimentally inaccessible. Overall, our approach offers new insights into the electron-induced switching mechanism and predicts enhanced switching rates upon electronic decoupling of the molecule from the metallic substrate, for example by introducing an ultrathin insulating layer.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Kibble-Zurek dynamics in the anisotropic Ising model of the Si(001) surface

As a simplified description of the non-equilibrium dynamics of buckled dimers on the Si(001) surface, we consider the anisotropic 2D Ising model and study the freezing of spatial correlations during a cooling quench across the critical point. Depending on the cooling rate, we observe a crossover from 1D to 2D behavior. For rapid cooling, we find effectively 1D behavior in the strongly coupled direction, for which we provide an exact analytic solution of the non-equilibrium dynamics. For slower cooling rates, we start to see 2D behavior where our numerical simulations show an approach to the usual Kibble-Zurek scaling in 2D.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2025

Towards quantitative understanding of quantum dot ensemble capacitance-voltage spectroscopy

Inhomogeneous ensembles of quantum dots (QDs) coupled to a charge reservoir are widely studied by using, e.g., electrical methods like capacitance-voltage spectroscopy. We present experimental measurements of the QD capacitance as a function of varying parameters such as ac frequency and bath temperature. The experiment reveals distinct shifts in the position of the capacitance peaks. While temperature-induced shifts have been explained by previous models, the observation of frequency-dependent shifts has not been explained so far. Given that existing models fall short in explaining these phenomena, we propose a refined theoretical model based on a master equation approach which incorporates energy-dependent tunneling effects. This approach successfully reproduces the experimental data. We highlight the critical role of energy-dependent tunneling in two distinct regimes: at low temperatures, ensemble effects arising from energy-level dispersion in differently sized QDs dominate the spectral response; at high temperatures and frequencies, we observe a peak shift of a different nature, which is best described by optimizing the conjoint probability of successive in- and out-tunneling events. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of tunnel processes and the physical properties of QD ensembles coupled to a common reservoir, with implications for their development in applications such as single-photon sources and spin qubits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Phase-controlled heat modulation with Aharonov-Bohm interferometers

A heat modulator is proposed based on a voltage-biased Aharonov-Bohm interferometer. Once an electrical bias is applied, Peltier effects give rise to a flow of heat that can be modulated by a magnetic flux. We determine the corresponding temperature changes using a simple thermal model. Our calculations demonstrate that the modulated temperature difference can be as large as 80 mK at base temperature about 600 mK with relative temperature variations reaching 10\%. Our model also predicts, quite generally, the emergence of spin-polarized heat flows without any ferromagnetic contacts, if Rashba spin-orbit interaction is combined with the applied magnetic flux, which potentially paves the way towards caloritronic information processing.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Floquet engineering Higgs dynamics in time-periodic superconductors

Higgs modes emerge in superconductors as collective excitations of the order parameter amplitude when periodically driven by electromagnetic radiation. In this work, we develop a Floquet approach to study Higgs modes in superconductors under time-periodic driving, where the dynamics of the order parameter is captured by anomalous Floquet Green's functions. We show that the Floquet description is particularly powerful as it allows one to exploit the time-periodic nature of the driving, thus considerably reducing the complexity of the time-dependent problem. Interestingly, the Floquet approach is also enlightening because it naturally offers a physical explanation for the renormalized steady-state order parameter as a result of photon processes between Floquet sidebands. We demonstrate the usefulness of Floquet engineering Higgs modes in time-periodic $s$-wave superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Critical behavior of the dimerized Si(001) surface: Continuous order-disorder phase transition in the two-dimensional Ising universality class

The critical behavior of the order-disorder phase transition in the buckled dimer structure of the Si(001) surface is investigated both theoretically by means of first-principles calculations and experimentally by spot profile analysis low-energy electron diffraction (SPA-LEED). We use density functional theory (DFT) with three different functionals commonly used for Si to determine the coupling constants of an effective lattice Hamiltonian describing the dimer interactions. Experimentally, the phase transition from the low-temperature $c(4 {\times} 2)$- to the high-temperature $p(2 {\times} 1)$-reconstructed surface is followed through the intensity and width of the superstructure spots within the temperature range 78-400 K. Near the critical temperature $T_c = 190.6\,\mathrm{K}$, we observe universal critical behavior of spot intensities and correlation lengths which falls into the universality class of the two-dimensional (2D) Ising model. From the ratio of correlation lengths along and across the dimer rows we determine effective nearest-neighbor couplings of an anisotropic 2D Ising model, $J_\parallel = (-24.9 \pm 0.9_\mathrm{stat} \pm 1.3_\mathrm{sys})\,\mathrm{meV}$ and $J_\perp = (-0.8 \pm 0.1_\mathrm{stat})\,\mathrm{meV}$. We find that the experimentally determined coupling constants of the Ising model can be reconciled with those of the more complex lattice Hamiltonian from DFT when the critical behavior is of primary interest. The anisotropy of the interactions derived from the experimental data via the 2D Ising model is best matched by DFT calculations using the PBEsol functional. The trends in the calculated anisotropy are consistent with the surface stress anisotropy predicted by the DFT functionals, pointing towards the role of surface stress reduction as a driving force for establishing the $c(4 {\times} 2)$-reconstructed ground state.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Nonlocal thermoelectric detection of interaction and correlations in edge states

We investigate nonequilibrium effects in the transport of interacting electrons in quantum conductors, proposing the nonlocal thermoelectric response as a direct indicator of the presence of interactions, nonthermal states and the effect of correlations. This is done by assuming a quantum Hall setup where two channels (connected to reservoirs at different temperatures) co-propagate for a finite distance, such that a thermoelectrical response is only expected if the electron-electron interaction mediates heat exchange between the channels. This way, the nonlocal Seebeck response measures the interaction strength. Considering zero-range interactions, we solve the charge and energy currents and noises of a non-equilibrium integrable interacting system, determining the universal interaction-dependent length scale of energy equilibration. Further, a setup with two controllable quantum point contacts allows thermoelectricity to monitor the interacting system thermalisation as well as the fundamental role of cross-correlations in the heat exchange at intermediate length scales.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Spatio-Temporal Electron Propagation Dynamics in Au/Fe/MgO(001) in nonequilibrium: Revealing Single Scattering Events and the Ballistic Limit

Understanding the microscopic spatio-temporal dynamics of nonequilibrium charge carriers in heterosystems promises optimization of process and device design towards desired energy transfer. Hot electron transport is governed by scattering with other electrons, defects, and bosonic excitations. Analysis of the energy dependence of scattering pathways and identification of diffusive, super-diffusive, and ballistic transport regimes are current challenges. We determine in femtosecond time-resolved two-photon photoelectron emission spectroscopy the energy-dependent change of the electron propagation time through epitaxial Au/Fe(001) heteostructures as a function of Au layer thickness for energies of 0.5 to \unit[2.0]{eV} above the Fermi energy. We describe the laser-induced nonequilibrium electron excitation and injection across the Fe/Au interface using real-time time-dependent density functional theory and analyze the electron propagation through the Au layer by microscopic electron transport simulations. We identify ballistic transport of minority electrons at energies with a nascent, optically excited electron population which is determined by the combination of photon energy and the specific electronic structure of the material. At lower energy, super-diffusive transport with 1 to 4 scattering events dominates. The effective electron velocity accelerates from 0.3 to \unit[1]{nm/fs} with an increase in the Au layer thickness from 10 to 100~nm. This phenomenon is explained by electron transport that becomes preferentially aligned with the interface normal for thicker Au layers, which facilitates electron momentum / energy selection by choice of the propagation layer thickness.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Dimer Coupling Energies of the Si(001) Surface

The coupling energies between the buckled dimers of the Si(001) surface were determined through analysis of the anisotropic critical behavior of its order-disorder phase transition. Spot profiles in high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction as a function of temperature were analyzed within the framework of the anisotropic two-dimensional Ising model. The validity of this approach is justified by the large ratio of correlation lengths, $ξ_\parallel^+/ξ_\perp^+ = 5.2$ of the fluctuating $c(4 {\times} 2)$ domains above the critical temperature $T_\mathrm{c} = (190.6 \pm 10)$ K. We obtain effective couplings $J_\parallel = (-24.9 \pm 1.3)$ meV along the dimer rows and $J_\perp = (-0.8 \pm 0.1)$ meV across the dimer rows, i.e., antiferromagnetic-like coupling of the dimers with $c(4 {\times} 2)$ symmetry.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Superconductor-quantum dot hybrid coolers

We propose a refrigeration scheme in a mesoscopic superconductor-quantum dot hybrid device. The setup can significantly cool down a normal metal coupled to the device by applying a bias voltage across the system. We demonstrate that the cooling power can be as large as 0.05$Δ_0^2/h$ where $Δ_0$ is the absolute value of superconducting order parameter. In contrast to previous proposals, our device operates without any magnetic elements such as ferromagnetic reservoirs or Zeeman splittings. The refrigeration scheme works over a broad parameter range and can be optimized by tuning system parameters such as level position and bias voltage. Our theory self-consistently determines the temperature drop of the normal reservoir in the nonlinear transport regime including electron-electron interactions at the mean field level. Finally, we evaluate the refrigeration performance and find efficiencies as large as half of the Carnot bound for realistic values of the coupling strength.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Ultrafast electron dynamics in Au/Fe/MgO(001) analyzed by Au- and Fe-selective pumping in time-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy: Separation of excitations in adjacent metallic layers

The transport of optically excited, hot electrons in heterostructures is analyzed by femtosecond, time-resolved two-photon photoelectron emission spectroscopy (2PPE) for epitaxial Au/Fe/MgO(001). We compare the temporal evolution of the 2PPE intensity upon optically pumping Fe or Au, while the probing occurs on the Au surface. In the case of Fe-side pumping, assuming independent relaxation in the Fe and Au layers, we determine the hot electron relaxation times in these individual layers by an analysis of the Au layer thickness dependence of the observed, effective electron lifetimes in the heterostructure. We show in addition that such a systematic analysis fails for the case of Au-side pumping due to the spatially distributed optical excitation density, which varies with the Au layer thickness. This work extends a previous study [Beyazit et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 076803 (2020)] by new data leading to reduced error bars in the determined lifetimes and by a non-linear term in the Au-thickness dependent data analysis which contributes for similar Fe and Au film thicknesses.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Ultrafast transport and energy relaxation of hot electrons in Au/Fe/MgO(001) heterostructures analyzed by linear time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

In condensed matter, scattering processes determine the transport of charge carriers. In case of heterostructures, interfaces determine many dynamic properties like charge transfer and transport and spin current dynamics. Here we discuss optically excited electron dynamics and their propagation across a lattice-matched, metal-metal interface of single crystal quality. Using femtosecond time-resolved linear photoelectron spectroscopy upon optically pumping different constituents of the heterostructure we establish a technique which probes the electron propagation and its energy relaxation simultaneously. In our approach a near-infrared pump pulse excites electrons directly either in the Au layer or in the Fe layer of epitaxial Au/Fe/MgO(001) heterostructures while the transient photoemission spectrum is measured by an ultraviolet probe pulse on the Au surface. Upon femtosecond laser excitation, we analyze the relative changes in the electron distribution close to the Fermi energy and assign characteristic features of the time-dependent electron distribution to transport of hot and non-thermalized electrons from the Fe layer to the Au surface and vice versa. From the measured transient electron distribution we determine the excess energy which we compare with a calculation based on the two-temperature model and takes diffusive electron transport into account. On this basis we identify a transition from a super-diffusive to a diffusive transport regime to occur for a Au layer thickness of 20-30~nm.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Pair-amplitude dynamics in strongly-coupled superconductor-quantum dot hybrids

We consider a three-terminal system consisting of a quantum dot strongly coupled to two superconducting reservoirs in the infinite gap limit and weakly coupled to a normal metal. Using a real-time diagrammatic approach, we calculate the dynamics of the proximity-induced pair amplitude on the quantum dot. We find that after a quench the pair amplitude shows pronounced oscillations with a frequency determined by the coupling to the superconductors. In addition, it decays exponentially on a time scale set by the coupling to the normal metal. Strong oscillations of the pair amplitude occur also when the system is periodically driven both in the adiabatic and fast-driving limit. We relate the dynamics of the pair amplitude to the Josephson and Andreev current through the dot to demonstrate that it is an experimentally accessible quantity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Phase-dependent transport in thermally-driven superconducting single-electron transistors

We investigate thermally-driven transport of heat and charge in a superconducting single-electron transistor by means of a real-time diagrammatic transport theory. Our theoretical approach allows us to account for strong Coulomb interactions and arbitrary nonequilibrium conditions while performing a systematic expansion in the tunnel coupling. We find that a temperature bias across the system gives rise to finite heat and charge currents close to the particle-hole symmetric point which depend both on the gate voltage as well as on the phase difference between the superconducting reservoirs. The finite thermoelectric effect arises due to level renormalization from virtual tunneling processes. Furthermore, we find that the phase bias can give rise to finite charge currents even in the presence of an inversion-symmetric temperature bias.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Electron Waiting Times in a Strongly Interacting Quantum Dot: Interaction Effects and Higher-Order Tunneling Processes

Distributions of electron waiting times have been measured in several recent experiments and have been shown to provide complementary information compared to what can be learned from the electric current fluctuations. Existing theories, however, are restricted to either weakly coupled nanostructures or phase-coherent transport in mesoscopic conductors. Here, we consider an interacting quantum dot and develop a real-time diagrammatic theory of waiting time distributions that can treat the interesting regime, in which both interaction effects and higher-order tunneling processes are important. Specifically, we find that our quantum-mechanical theory captures higher-order tunneling processes at low temperatures, which are not included in a classical description, and which dramatically affect the waiting times by allowing fast tunneling processes inside the Coulomb blockade region. Our work paves the way for systematic investigations of temporal fluctuations in interacting quantum systems, for example close to a Kondo resonance or in a Luttinger liquid.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Higgs-like pair amplitude dynamics in superconductor-quantum dot hybrids

We consider a quantum dot weakly tunnel coupled to superconducting reservoirs. A finite superconducting pair amplitude can be induced on the dot via the proximity effect. We investigate the dynamics of the induced pair amplitude after a quench and under periodic driving of the system by means of a real-time diagrammatic approach. We find that the quench dynamics is dominated by an exponential decay towards equilibrium In contrast, the periodically driven system can sustain coherent oscillations of both the amplitude and the phase of the induced pair amplitude in analogy to Higgs and Nambu-Goldstone modes in driven bulk superconductors.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Relaxation dynamics in double-spin systems

We consider the relaxation dynamics of two spins coupled to a common bosonic bath. The time evolution is simulated by a generalized master equation derived within a real-time diagrammatic approach. Interference effects due to the coherent coupling to the common bath give rise to characteristic features in the relaxation dynamics after a quench or during a periodic external driving. In particular, we find that the long-time behavior during periodic driving depends sensitively on the initial state as well as on system parameters such as coupling asymmetries. When coupled to more than a single reservoir, the interference effects can lead to a cooling mechanism for one of the bosonic reservoirs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗