arXiv subjects

C. Bruder

Publications and source records attributed to C. Bruder.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Non-Markoffian effects of a simple nonlinear bath

We analyze a model of a nonlinear bath consisting of a single two-level system coupled to a linear bath (a classical noise force in the limit considered here). This allows us to study the effects of a nonlinear, non-Markoffian bath in a particularly simple situation. We analyze the effects of this bath onto the dynamics of a spin by calculating the decay of the equilibrium correlator of the spin's z-component. The exact results are compared with those obtained using three commonly used approximations: a Markoffian master equation for the spin dynamics, a weak-coupling approximation, and the substitution of a linear bath for the original nonlinear bath.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

Aharonov-Bohm ring with fluctuating flux

We consider a non-interacting system of electrons on a clean one-channel Aharonov-Bohm ring which is threaded by a fluctuating magnetic flux. The flux derives from a Caldeira-Leggett bath of harmonic oscillators. We address the influence of the bath on the following properties: one- and two-particle Green's functions, dephasing, persistent current and visibility of the Aharonov-Bohm effect in cotunneling transport through the ring. For the bath spectra considered here (including Nyquist noise of an external coil), we find no dephasing in the linear transport regime at zero temperature. PACS numbers: 73.23.-b, 73.23.Hk, 73.23.Ra, 03.65.Yz

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

$π-0$ Transition in Superconductor-Ferromagnetic-Superconductor Junctions

Superconductor-Ferromagnetic-Superconductor (SFS) Josephson junctions are known to exhibit a transition between $π$ and 0 states. In this note we find the $π-0$ phase diagram of an SFS junction depending on the transparency of an intermediate insulating layer (I). We show that in general, the Josephson critical current is nonzero at the $π-0$ transition temperature. Contributions to the current from the two spin channels nearly compensate each other and the first harmonic of the Josephson current as a function of phase difference is suppressed. However, higher harmonics give a nonzero contribution to the supercurrent.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2001

Separation quality of a geometric ratchet

We consider an experimentally relevant model of a geometric ratchet in which particles undergo drift and diffusive motion in a two-dimensional periodic array of obstacles, and which is used for the continuous separation of particles subject to different forces. The macroscopic drift velocity and diffusion tensor are calculated by a Monte-Carlo simulation and by a master-equation approach, using the correponding microscopic quantities and the shape of the obstacles as input. We define a measure of separation quality and investigate its dependence on the applied force and the shape of the obstacles.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2001

Coherent oscillations in a Cooper-pair box

This paper is devoted to an analysis of the experiment by Nakamura {\it et al.} (Nature {\bf 398}, 786 (1999)) on the quantum state control in Josephson junctions devices. By considering the relevant processes involved in the detection of the charge state of the box and a realistic description of the gate pulse we are able to analyze some aspects of the experiment (like the amplitude of the measurement current) in a quantitative way.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2000

Spin-Dependent Josephson Current through Double Quantum Dots and Measurement of Entangled Electron States

We study a double quantum dot each dot of which is tunnel-coupled to superconducting leads. In the Coulomb blockade regime, a spin-dependent Josephson coupling between two superconductors is induced, as well as an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange coupling between the spins on the double dot which can be tuned by the superconducting phase difference. We show that the correlated spin states-singlet or triplets-on the double dot can be probed via the Josephson current in a dc-SQUID setup.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2000

The excitation spectrum of mesoscopic proximity structures

We investigate one aspect of the proximity effect, viz., the local density of states of a superconductor-normal metal sandwich. In contrast to earlier work, we allow for the presence of an arbitrary concentration of impurities in the structure. The superconductor induces a gap in the normal metal spectrum that is proportional to the inverse of the elastic mean free path l_N for rather clean systems. For a mean free path much shorter than the thickness of the normal metal, we find a gap size proportional to l_N that approaches the behavior predicted by the Usadel equation (diffusive limit). We also discuss the influence of interface and surface roughness, the consequences of a non-ideal transmittivity of the interface, and the dependence of our results on the choice of the model of impurity scattering.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2000

Anderson-type model for a molecule adsorbed on a metal surface

We investigate a modified Anderson model to study the local density of states (LDOS) of a molecular wire adsorbed on a metal. Using a self-consistent mean-field type approach we find an exponential decay of the LDOS along the molecule. A repulsive on-site interaction on the molecule suppresses the tunneling and decreases the characteristic decay length.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv1999

Spectral Features of the Proximity Effect

We calculate the local density of states (LDOS) of a superconductor-normal metal sandwich at arbitrary impurity concentration. The presence of the superconductor induces a gap in the normal metal spectrum that is proportional to the inverse of the elastic mean free path $l$ for rather clean systems. For a mean free path much shorter than the thickness of the normal metal, we find a gap size proportional to $l$ that approaches the behavior predicted by the Usadel equation (diffusive limit).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv1998

Phase transition in a chain of quantum vortices

We consider interacting vortices in a quasi-one-dimensional array of Josephson junctions with small capacitance. If the charging energy of a junction is of the order of the Josephson energy, the fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter in the system are considerable, and the vortices behave as quantum particles. Their density may be tuned by an external magnetic field, and therefore one can control the commensurability of the one-dimensional vortex lattice with the lattice of Josephson junctions. We show that the interplay between the quantum nature of a vortex, and the long-range interaction between the vortices leads to the existence of a specific commensurate-incommensurate transition in a one-dimensional vortex lattice. In the commensurate phase an elementary excitation is a soliton, with energy separated from the ground state by a finite gap. This gap vanishes in the incommensurate phase. Each soliton carries a fraction of a flux quantum; the propagation of solitons leads to a finite resistance of the array. We find the dependence of the resistance activation energy on the magnetic field and parameters of the Josephson array. This energy consists of the above-mentioned gap, and also of a boundary pinning term, which is different in the commensurate and incommensurate phases. The developed theory allows us to explain quantitatively the available experimental data.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv1998

Cold bosonic atoms in optical lattices

The dynamics of an ultracold dilute gas of bosonic atoms in an optical lattice can be described by a Bose-Hubbard model where the system parameters are controlled by laser light. We study the continuous (zero temperature) quantum phase transition from the superfluid to the Mott insulator phase induced by varying the depth of the optical potential, where the Mott insulator phase corresponds to a commensurate filling of the lattice (``optical crystal''). Examples for formation of Mott structures in optical lattices with a superimposed harmonic trap, and in optical superlattices are presented.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Diamagnetic Response of an N-S-Proximity System at Arbitrary Impurity Concentration

We investigate the magnetic response of normal-metal--superconductor proximity systems for arbitrary concentrations of impurities and at arbitrary temperatures. Using the quasiclassical theory a general linear-response formula is derived which yields a non-local current-field relation in terms of the zero-field Green's functions. Various regimes between clean-limit and (local) dirty-limit response are investigated by analytical methods and by solving the general formula numerically. In the ballistic regime we find that a finite mean free path reduces the non-locality and leads to a stronger screening than in the clean limit even for a mean free path much larger than the system size. Additionally, the range of the kernel describing the non-locality is strongly temperature-dependent in this case. In the diffusive limit we find a cross-over from local to non-local screening, which restricts the applicability of the dirty-limit theory.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv1998

Broadening of Andreev-Bound States in d_{x^2-y^2} superconductors

We investigate the broadening of the bound states at an interface of an unconventional superconductor by bulk impurity scattering. We use the quasiclassical theory and include impurity scattering in the Born and in the unitarity limit. The broadening of bound states due to unitary scatterers is shown to be substantially weaker than in the Born limit. We study various model geometries and calculate the temperature dependence of the Josephson critical current in the presence of these impurity-broadened bound states.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv1998

Quasiclassical theory of twin boundaries in High-T_c superconductors

We investigate the electronic structure of twin boundaries in orthorhombically distorted high-T$_c$ materials using the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity. At low temperatures we find a local instability to a time-reversal symmetry breaking state at the twin boundary. This state yields spontaneous currents along the twin boundary that are microscopically explained by the structure of the quasiparticle bound states. We calculate the local density of states and find a splitting in the zero-bias peak once the spontaneous currents set in. This splitting is measurable by STM techniques and is a unique signature of time-reversal breaking states at a twin boundary.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv1997

Photon-Assisted Transport Through Ultrasmall Quantum Dots: Influence of Intradot Transitions

We study transport through one or two ultrasmall quantum dots with discrete energy levels to which a time-dependent field is applied (e.g., microwaves). The AC field causes photon-assisted tunneling and also transitions between discrete energy levels of the dot. We treat the problem by introducing a generalization of the rotating-wave approximation to arbitrarily many levels. We calculate the dc-current through one dot and find satisfactory agreement with recent experiments by Oosterkamp et al. . In addition, we propose a novel electron pump consisting of two serially coupled single-level quantum dots with a time-dependent interdot barrier.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv1996

Aharonov-Bohm-Type Oscillations of Thermopower in a Quantum Dot Ring Geometry

We investigate Aharonov-Bohm-type oscillations of the thermopower of a quantum dot embedded in a ring for the case when the interaction between electrons can be neglected. The thermopower is shown to be strongly flux dependent, and typically the amplitude of oscillations exceeds the background value. It is also shown to be essentially dependent on the phase of the scattering matrix which is determined by the experimental geometry and is not known in the given experiment. Two procedures to compare theory and experiment are proposed.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1996

Local Density of States in a Dirty Normal Metal connected to a Superconductor

A superconductor in contact with a normal metal not only induces superconducting correlations, known as proximity effect, but also modifies the density of states at some distance from the interface. These modifications can be resolved experimentally in microstructured systems. We, therefore, study the local density of states $N(E,x)$ of a superconductor - normal metal heterostructure. We find a suppression of $N(E,x)$ at small energies, which persists to large distances. If the normal metal forms a thin layer of thickness $L_n$, a minigap in the density of states appears which is of the order of the Thouless energy $\sim \hbar D/L_n^2$. A magnetic field suppresses the features. We find good agreement with recent experiments of Guéron {\it et al.}

cond-mat↗

arXiv1995

Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and resonant tunneling in strongly correlated quantum dots

We investigate Aharonov-Bohm oscillations of the current through a strongly correlated quantum dot embedded in an arbitrary scattering geometry. Resonant-tunneling processes lead to a flux-dependent renormalization of the dot level. As a consequence we obtain a fine structure of the current oscillations which is controlled by quantum fluctuations. Strong Coulomb repulsion leads to a continuous bias voltage dependent phase shift and, in the nonlinear response regime, destroys the symmetry of the differential conductance under a sign change of the external flux.

cond-mat↗