arXiv subjects

Björn Sothmann

Publications and source records attributed to Björn Sothmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Phase-coherent caloritronics with ordinary and topological Josephson junctions

We provide a brief and comprehensive overview over recent developments in the field of phase-coherent caloritronics in ordinary and topological Josephson junctions. We start from the simple case of a short, one-dimensional superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (S-N-S) Josephson junction and derive the phase-dependent thermal conductance within the Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism. Then, we review the key experimental breakthroughs that have triggered the recent growing interest into phase-coherent heat transport. They include the realization of thermal interferometers, diffractors, modulators and routers based on superconducting tunnel junctions. Finally, we discuss very recent theoretical findings based on superconductor-topological insulator-superconductor (S-TI-S) Josephson junctions that show interesting heat transport properties due to the interplay between topological band structures and superconductivity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

On-demand thermoelectric generation of equal-spin Cooper pairs

Superconducting spintronics is based on the creation of spin-triplet Cooper pairs in ferromagnet-superconductor (F-S) hybrid junctions. Previous proposals to manipulate spin-polarized supercurrents on-demand typically require the ability to carefully control magnetic materials. We, instead, propose a quantum heat engine that generates equal-spin Cooper pairs and drives supercurrents on-demand without manipulating magnetic components. We consider a S-F-S junction, connecting two leads at different temperatures, on top of the helical edge of a two-dimensional topological insulator. Heat and charge currents generated by the thermal bias are caused by different transport processes, where electron cotunneling is responsible for the heat flow to the cold lead and, strikingly, only crossed Andreev reflections contribute to the charge current. Such a purely nonlocal Andreev thermoelectric effect injects spin-polarized Cooper pairs at the superconductors, generating a supercurrent that can be switched on/off by tuning their relative phase. We further demonstrate that signatures of spin-triplet pairing are facilitated by rather low fluctuations of the thermoelectric current for temperature gradients smaller than the superconducting gap.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Phase-dependent heat transport in Josephson junctions with p-wave superconductors and superfluids

We investigate phase-coherent thermal transport in Josephson junctions made from unconventional superconductors or superfluids. The thermal conductance is evaluated for one- and two-dimensional junctions within the Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism. We analyze three different scenarios of junctions between two triplet superconductors with (i) helical pairing, (ii) unitary chiral and (iii) nonunitary chiral pairing. We find that the phase-dependent thermal conductance allows us to distinguish the different pairings and provides insight into the formation of topologically nontrivial Andreev bound states in the junction.

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arXiv2019

Thermal transistor and thermometer based on Coulomb-coupled conductors

We study a three-terminal setup consisting of a single-level quantum dot capacitively coupled to a quantum point contact. The point contact connects to a source and drain reservoirs while the quantum dot is coupled to a single base reservoir. This setup has been used to implement a noninvasive, nanoscale thermometer for the bath reservoir by detecting the current in the quantum point contact. Here, we demonstrate that the device can also be operated as a thermal transistor where the average (charge and heat) current through the quantum point contact is controlled via the temperature of the base reservoir. We characterize the performances of this device both as a transistor and a thermometer, and derive the operating condition maximizing their respective sensitivities. The present analysis is useful for the control of charge and heat flow and high precision thermometry at the nanoscale.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Phase-dependent heat and charge transport through superconductor-quantum dot hybrids

We analyze heat and charge transport through a single-level quantum dot coupled to two BCS superconductors at different temperatures to first order in the tunnel coupling. In order to describe the system theoretically, we extend a real-time diagrammatic technique that allows us to capture the interplay between superconducting correlations, strong Coulomb interactions, and nonequilibrium physics. We find that a thermoelectric effect can arise due to the superconducting proximity effect on the dot. In the nonlinear regime, the thermoelectric current can also flow at the particle-hole symmetric point due to a level renormalization caused by virtual tunneling between the dot and the leads. The heat current through the quantum dot is sensitive to the superconducting phase difference. In the nonlinear regime, the system can act as a thermal diode.

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arXiv2018

Phase-tunable thermal rectification in the topological SQUIPT

We theoretically explore the behavior of thermal transport in the topological SQUIPT, in the linear and nonlinear regime. The device consists of a topological Josephson junction based on a two-dimensional topological insulator in contact with two superconducting leads, and a probe tunnel coupled to the topological edge states of the junction. We compare the performance of a normal metal and a graphene probe, showing that the topological SQUIPT behaves as a passive thermal rectifier and that it can reach a rectification coefficient of up to $~ 145\%$ with the normal metal probe. Moreover, the interplay between the superconducting leads and the helical edge states leads to a unique behaviour due to a Doppler shift like effect, that allows one to influence quasi-particle transport through the edge channels via the magnetic flux that penetrates the junction. Exploiting this effect, we can greatly enhance the rectification coefficient for temperatures below the critical temperature $T_\text{C}$ in an active rectification scheme.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Phase-coherent heat circulator based on multi-terminal Josephson junctions

We theoretically propose a phase-coherent thermal circulator based on ballistic multiterminal Josephson junctions. The breaking of time-reversal symmetry by either a magnetic flux or a superconducting phase bias allows heat to flow preferentially in one direction from one terminal to the next while heat flow in the opposite direction is suppressed. We find that our device can achieve a high circulation efficiency over a wide range of parameters and that its performance is robust with respect to the presence of disorder. We provide estimates for the expected heat currents for realistic samples.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Odd-frequency Superconductivity Revealed by Thermopower

Superconductivity is characterized by a nonvanishing superconducting pair amplitude. It has a definite symmetry in spin, momentum and frequency (time). While the spin and momentum symmetry have been probed experimentally for different classes of superconductivity, the odd-frequency nature of certain superconducting correlations has not been demonstrated yet in a direct way. Here we propose the thermopower as an unambiguous way to assess odd-frequency superconductivity. This is possible since the thermoelectric coefficient given by Andreev-like processes is only finite in the presence of odd-frequency superconductivity. We illustrate our general findings with a simple example of a superconductor-quantum dot-ferromagnet hybrid.

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arXiv2018

A Topological SQUIPT based on helical edge states in proximity to superconductors

We propose a device based on a topological Josephson junction where the helical edge states of a two-dimensional topological insulator are in close proximity to two superconducting leads. The presence of a magnetic flux through the junction leads to a Doppler shift in the spectrum of Andreev bound states, and affects the quantum interference between proximized edge states. We inspect the emergent features, accessing the density of states through a tunnel-coupled metallic probe, thus realizing a Topological Superconducting Quantum Interference Proximity Transistor (TSQUIPT). We calculate the expected performances of this new device, concluding that it can be used as a sensitive, absolute magnetometer due to the voltage drop across the junction decaying to a constant value as a function of the magnetic flux. Contrary to conventional SQUID and SQUIPT designs, no ring structure is needed. The findings pave the way for novel and sensitive devices based on hybrid devices that exploit helical edge states.

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arXiv2017

Illumination-induced nonequilibrium charge states in self-assembled quantum dots

We report on capacitance-voltage spectroscopy of self-assembled InAs quantum dots under constant illumination. Besides the electronic and excitonic charging peaks in the spectrum reported earlier, we find additional resonances associated with nonequilibrium state tunneling unseen in C(V) measurements before. We derive a master-equation based model to assign the corresponding quantum state tunneling to the observed peaks. C(V) spectroscopy in a magnetic field is used to verify the model-assigned nonequilibrium peaks. The model is able to quantitatively address various experimental findings in C(V) spectroscopy of quantum dots such as the frequency and illumination dependent peak height, a thermal shift of the tunneling resonances and the occurrence of the additional nonequilibrium peaks.

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arXiv2017

Optimal quantum interference thermoelectric heat engine with edge states

We show theoretically that a thermoelectric heat engine, operating exclusively due to quantum-mechanical interference, can reach optimal linear-response performance. A chiral edge state implementation of a close-to-optimal heat engine is proposed in an electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a mesoscopic capacitor coupled to one arm. We demonstrate that the maximum power and corresponding efficiency can reach 90\% and 83\%, respectively, of the theoretical maximum. The proposed heat engine can be realized with existing experimental techniques and has a performance robust against moderate dephasing.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

High efficiency thermal switch based on topological Josephson junctions

We propose theoretically a thermal switch operating by the magnetic-flux controlled diffraction of phase-coherent heat currents in a thermally biased Josephson junction based on a two-dimensional topological insulator. For short junctions, the system shows a sharp switching behavior while for long junctions the switching is smooth. Physically, the switching arises from the Doppler shift of the superconducting condensate due to screening currents induced by a magnetic flux. We suggest a possible experimental realization that exhibits a relative temperature change of 40\% between the on and off state for realistic parameters. This is a factor of two larger than in recently realized thermal modulators based on conventional superconducting tunnel junctions.

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arXiv2017

Quantum heat engines based on electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometers

We theoretically investigate the thermoelectric properties of heat engines based on Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The energy dependence of the transmission amplitudes in such setups arises from a difference in the interferometer arm lengths. Any thermoelectric response is thus of purely quantum mechanical origin. In addition to an experimentally established three-terminal setup, we also consider a two-terminal geometry as well as a four-terminal setup consisting of two interferometers. We find that Mach-Zehnder interferometers can be used as powerful and efficient heat engines which perform well under realistic conditions.

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arXiv2016

The Majorana STM as a perfect detector of odd-frequency superconductivity

We propose a novel scanning tunneling microscope (STM) device in which the tunneling tip is formed by a Majorana bound state (MBS). This peculiar bound state exists at the boundary of a one-dimensional topological superconductor. Since the MBS has to be effectively spinless and local, we argue that it is the smallest unit that shows itself odd-frequency superconducting pairing. Odd-frequency superconductivity is characterized by an anomalous Green function which is an odd function of the time arguments of the two electrons forming the Cooper pair. Interestingly, our Majorana STM can be used as the perfect detector of odd-frequency superconductivity. The reason is that a supercurrent between the Majorana STM and any other superconductor can only flow if the latter system exhibits itself odd-frequency pairing. To illustrate our general idea, we consider the tunneling problem of the Majorana STM coupled to a quantum dot in vicinity to a conventional superconductor. In such a (superconducting) quantum dot, the effective pairing can be tuned from even- to odd-frequency behavior if an external magnetic field is applied to it.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Fingerprint of topological Andreev bound states in phase-dependent heat transport

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.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Thermoelectrics with Coulomb coupled quantum dots

In this article we review the thermoelectric properties of three terminal devices with Coulomb coupled quantum dots (QDs) as observed in recent experiments [1,2]. The system we consider consists of two Coulomb-blockade QDs one of which can exchange electrons with only a single reservoir (heat reservoir) while the other dot is tunnel coupled to two reservoirs at a lower temperature (conductor). The heat reservoir and the conductor interact only via the Coulomb-coupling of the quantum dots. It has been found that two regimes have to be considered. In the first one heat flow between the two systems is small. In this regime thermally driven occupation fluctuations of the hot QD modify the transport properties of the conductor system. This leads to an effect called thermal gating. Experiment have shown how this can be used to control charge flow in the conductor by means of temperature in a remote reservoir. We further substantiate the observations with model calculations and implications for the realization of an all-thermal transistor are discussed. In the second regime, heat flow between the two systems is relevant. Here the system works as a nano scale heat engine, as proposed recently [3]. We review the conceptual idea, its experimental realization and the novel features arising in this new kind of thermoelectric device such as decoupling of heat and charge flow.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Three-Terminal Energy Harvester with Coupled Quantum Dots

Rectification of thermal fluctuations in mesoscopic conductors is the key idea of today's attempts to build nanoscale thermoelectric energy harvesters in order to convert heat into a useful electric power. So far, most concepts make use of the Seebeck effect in a two-terminal geometry where heat and charge are both carried by the same particles. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the working principle of a new kind of energy harvester, proposed recently using two capacitively coupled quantum dots. We show that due to its novel three-terminal design which spatially separates the heat reservoir from the conductor circuit, the directions of charge and heat flow become decoupled in our device. This enables us to manipulate the direction of the generated charge current by means of external gate voltages while leaving the direction of heat flow unaffected. Our results pave the way for a new generation of multi-terminal, highly efficient nanoscale heat engines.

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arXiv2015

Detection of interactions via generalized factorial cumulants in systems in and out of equilibrium

We introduce time-dependent, generalized factorial cumulants $C_s^m(t)$ of the full counting statistics of electron transfer as a tool to detect interactions in nanostructures. The violation of the sign criterion $(-1)^{m-1} C^m_s(t)\ge0$ for \emph{any} time $t$, order $m$, and parameter $s$ proves the presence of interactions. For given system parameters, there is a minimal time span $t_\text{min}$ and a minimal order $m$ to observe the violation of the sign criterion. We demonstrate that generalized factorial cumulants are more sensitive to interactions than ordinary ones and can detect interactions even in regimes where ordinary factorial cumulants fail. We illustrate our findings with the example of a quantum dot tunnel coupled to electronic reservoirs either in or out of equilibrium.

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