arXiv subjects

E. Vernek

Publications and source records attributed to E. Vernek.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Dissipative phonon Fock state production in strong nonlinear optomechanics

We put forward a deterministic dissipative protocol to prepare phonon Fock states in nonlinear quantum optomechanical devices. The system is composed of a mechanical mode interacting with an optical field via radiation pressure, whereas the light mode is laser-driven in the resolved blue-sideband regime. To keep our results tractable, we have switched to an interaction picture in a displaced basis, where the effective Hamiltonian exhibits the selective photon-phonon interaction explicitly. After proper parameter adjustment and similarly to cavity-cooling schemes, the quantum evolution allows steering the mechanical degree of freedom to the desired Fock state by directing the optical excitations dynamically towards the target phonon state. The numerical results, including decoherence on both the mechanical and the optical degrees of freedom, show to be quite robust in the good- and bad-cavity regimes with fidelities exceeding $95\%$. Lastly, characterization of the achieved nonclassicality, as well as the limitations and feasibility of our protocol under experimental parameters, are also analyzed.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Confinement and Fermion Doubling Problem in Dirac-like Hamiltonians

We investigate the interplay between confinement and the fermion doubling problem in Dirac-like Hamiltonians. Individually, both features are well known. First, simple electrostatic gates do not confine electrons due to the Klein tunneling. Second, a typical lattice discretization of the first-order derivative $k \rightarrow -i\partial_x$ skips the central point and allow spurious low-energy, highly oscillating solutions known as fermion doublers. While a no-go theorem states that the doublers cannot be eliminated without artificially breaking a symmetry, here we show that the symmetry broken by the Wilson's mass approach is equivalent to the enforcement of hard-wall boundary conditions, thus making the no-go theorem irrelevant when confinement is foreseen. We illustrate our arguments by calculating the following: (i) the band structure and transport properties across thin films of the topological insulator Bi$_2$Se$_3$, for which we use ab-initio density functional theory calculations to justify the model; and (ii) the band structure of zigzag graphene nanoribbons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Steady many-body entanglements in dissipative systems

We propose a dissipative method for the preparation of many-body steady entangled states in spin and fermionic chains. The scheme is accomplished by means of an engineered set of Lindbladians acting over the eigenmodes of the system, whose spectrum is assumed to be resolvable. We apply this idea to prepare a particular entangled state of a spin chain described by the XY model, emphasizing its generality and experimental feasibility. Our results show that our proposal is capable of achieving high fidelities and purities for a given target state even when dephasing and thermal dissipative processes are taken into account. Moreover, the method exhibits a remarkable robustness against fluctuations in the model parameters.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

From Kondo to local singlet state in graphene nanoribbons with magnetic impurities

A detailed analysis of the Kondo effect of a magnetic impurity in a zigzag graphene nanoribbon is addressed. An adatom is coupled to the graphene nanoribbon via a hybridization amplitude $Γ_{imp}$ in a hollow or top site configuration. In addition, the adatom is also weakly coupled to a metallic STM tip by a hybridization function $Γ_{tip}$ that provides a Kondo screening of its magnetic moment. The entire system is described by an Anderson-like Hamiltonian whose low-temperature physics is accessed by employing the numerical renormalization group approach, which allows us to obtain the thermodynamic properties used to compute the Kondo temperature of the system. We find two screening regimes when the adatom is close to the edge of the zigazag graphene nanoribbon: (1) a weak coupling regime ($Γ_{imp}\ll Γ_{tip}$), in which the edge states produce an enhancement of the Kondo temperature $T_K$ and (2) a strong coupling regime ($Γ_{imp}\gg Γ_{tip}$), in which a local singlet is formed, in detriment to the Kondo screening by the STM tip. These two regimes can be clearly distinguished by the dependence of their characteristic temperature $T^*$ on the coupling between the adatom and the carbon sites of the graphene nanoribon ($V_{imp}$). We observe that in the weak coupling regime $T^*$ increases exponentially with $V_{imp}^2$. Differently, in the strong coupling regime, $T^*$ increases linearly with $V_{imp}^2$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Graphene-based spin switch device via modulated Rashba field and strain

We investigate the spin-resolved transport in a two-terminal zigzag graphene nanoribbon device with two independent gate induced Rashba spin-orbit coupling regions and in the presence of strain. By employing a recursive Green's function technique to the tight-binding model for the graphene nanoribbon, we calculate the spin-resolved conductance of the system. We show that by switching the sign of one of the gates it is possible to select which spin component will be transmitted. Moreover, our results show that an uniaxial strain applied to the nanoribbon plays a significant role in the transport, providing and additional manner to control the spin-polarized conductance. This makes the present system a potential candidate for future implementations of spin-based mechanical strain sensors.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Andreev and Majorana bound states in single and double quantum dot structures

We present a numerical study of the emergence of Majorana and Andreev bound states in a system composed by two quantum dots, in which one of then is coupled to a conventional superconductor, SC1, and the other connects to a topological superconductor, SC2. By controlling the interdot coupling we can drive the system from a two single (uncoupled) quantum dots to a double (coupled) dot system configurations. We employ a recursive Green's function technique that provides us with numerically exact results for the local density of states of the system. We first show that in the uncoupled dot configuration (single dot behavior) the Majorana and the Andreev bound states appear in an individual dot in two completely distinct regimes. Therefore, they cannot coexist in the single quantum dot system. We then study the coexistence of these states in the coupled double-dot configuration. In this situation we show that in the trivial phase of the SC2, the Andreev states are bound to an individual quantum dot in the atomic regime (weak interdot coupling) or extended over the entire molecule in the molecular regime (strong interdot coupling). More interesting features is actually seen in the topological phase of the SC2. In this case, in the atomic limit, the Andreev states appear bound to one of the quantum dots while a Majorana zero mode appears in the other one. In the molecular regime, on the other hand, the Andreev bound states take over the entire molecule while the Majorana state remains always bound to one of the quantum dots.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Pedagogical introduction to equilibrium Green's functions: condensed matter examples with numerical implementations

The Green's function method has applications in several fields in Physics, from classical differential equations to quantum many-body problems. In the quantum context, Green's functions are correlation functions, from which it is possible to extract information from the system under study, such as the density of states, relaxation times and response functions. Despite its power and versatility, it is known as a laborious and sometimes cumbersome method. Here we introduce the equilibrium Green's functions and the equation-of-motion technique, exemplifying the method in discrete lattices of non-interacting electrons. We start with simple models, such as the two-site molecule, the infinite and semi-infinite one-dimensional chains, and the two-dimensional ladder. Numerical implementations are developed via the recursive Green's function, implemented in Julia, an open-source, efficient and easy-to-learn scientific language. We also present a new variation of the surface recursive Green's function method, which can be of interest when simulating simultaneously the properties of surface and bulk.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Kondo effect in a quantum wire with spin-orbit coupling

The influence of spin-orbit interactions on the Kondo effect has been under debate recently. Studies conducted recently on a system composed by an Anderson impurity on a 2DEG with Rashba spin-orbit have been shown that it can enhance or suppress the Kondo temperature ($T_{\rm K}$), depending on the relative energy level position of the impurity with respect to the particle-hole symmetric point. Here we investigate a system composed by a single Anderson impurity side-coupled to a quantum wire with spin-orbit coupling (SOC). We derive an effective Hamiltonian in which the Kondo coupling is modified by the SOC. In addition, the Hamiltonian contains two other scattering terms, the so called Dzaloshinskyi-Moriya interaction, know to appear in these systems, and a new one describing processes similar to the Elliott-Yafet scattering mechanisms. By performing a renormalization group analysis on the effective Hamiltonian, we find that the correction on the Kondo coupling due to the SOC favors and enhancement of the Kondo temperature even in the particle-hole symmetric point of the Anderson model, agreeing with the NRG results. Moreover, away from the particle-hole symmetric point, $T_{\rm K}$ always increases with the SOC, accordingly with the previous renormalization group analysis.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Interaction effects on a Majorana zero mode leaking into a quantum dot

We have recently shown [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 89}, 165314 (2014)] that a non--interacting quantum dot coupled to a one--dimensional topological superconductor and to normal leads can sustain a Majorana mode even when the dot is expected to be empty, \emph{i.e.}, when the dot energy level is far above the Fermi level of he leads. This is due to the Majorana bound state of the wire leaking into the quantum dot. Here we extend this previous work by investigating the low--temperature quantum transport through an {\it interacting} quantum dot connected to source and drain leads and side--coupled to a topological wire. We explore the signatures of a Majorana zero--mode leaking into the quantum dot for a wide range of dot parameters, using a recursive Green's function approach. We then study the Kondo regime using numerical renormalization group calculations. We observe the interplay between the Majorana mode and the Kondo effect for different dot-wire coupling strengths, gate voltages and Zeeman fields. Our results show that a "0.5" conductance signature appears in the dot despite the interplay between the leaked Majorana mode and the Kondo effect. This robust feature persists for a wide range of dot parameters, even when the Kondo correlations are suppressed by Zeeman fields and/or gate voltages. The Kondo effect, on the other hand, is suppressed by both Zeeman fields and gate voltages. We show that the zero--bias conductance as a function of the magnetic field follows a well--known universality curve. This can be measured experimentally, and we propose that the universal conductance drop followed by a persistent conductance of $0.5\,e^2/h$ is evidence of the presence of Majorana--Kondo physics. These results confirm that this "0.5" Majorana signature in the dot remains even in the presence of the Kondo effect.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Magnetic field modulated Kondo effect in a single-magnetic-ion molecule

We study numerically the low-temperature electronic transport properties of a single-ion magnet with uniaxial and transverse spin anisotropies. We find clear signatures of a Kondo effect caused by the presence of a transverse (zero-field) anisotropy in the molecule. Upon applying a transverse magnetic field to the single-ion magnet, we observe oscillations of the Kondo effect due to the presence of diabolical (degeneracy) points of the energy spectrum of the molecule caused by a geometrical phase interference effects similar to those observed in the quantum tunneling of multi-ion molecular nanomagnets. The field-induced lifting of the ground state degeneracy competes with the interference modulation, resulting in some cases in a suppression of the Kondo peak.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Subtle leakage of a Majorana mode into a quantum dot

We investigate quantum transport through a quantum dot connected to source and drain leads and side-coupled to a topological superconducting nanowire (Kitaev chain) sustaining Majorana end modes. Using a recursive Green's function approach, we determine the local density of states (LDOS) of the system and find that the end Majorana mode of the wire leaks into the dot thus emerging as a unique dot level {\it pinned} to the Fermi energy $\varepsilon_F$ of the leads. Surprisingly, this resonance pinning, resembling in this sense a "Kondo resonance", occurs even when the gate-controlled dot level $\varepsilon_\text{dot}(V_g)$ is far above or far below $\varepsilon_F$. The calculated conductance $G$ of the dot exhibits an unambiguous signature for the Majorana end mode of the wire: in essence, an off-resonance dot [$\varepsilon_\text{dot}(V_g)\neq \varepsilon_F$], which should have $G=0$, shows instead a conductance $e^2/2h$ over a wide range of $V_g$, due to this pinned dot mode. Interestingly, this pinning effect only occurs when the dot level is coupled to a Majorana mode; ordinary fermionic modes (e.g., disorder) in the wire simply split and broaden (if a continuum) the dot level. We discuss experimental scenarios to probe Majorana modes in wires via these leaked/pinned dot modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Capacitive interactions and Kondo effect tuning in double quantum impurity systems

We present a study of the correlated transport regimes of a double quantum impurity system with mutual capacitive interactions. Such system can be implemented by a double quantum dot arrangement or by a quantum dot and nearby quantum point contact, with independently connected sets of metallic terminals. Many--body spin correlations arising within each dot--lead subsystem give rise to the Kondo effect under appropriate conditions. The otherwise independent Kondo ground states may be modified by the capacitive coupling, decisively modifying the ground state of the double quantum impurity system. We analyze this coupled system through variational methods and the numerical renormalization group technique. Our results reveal a strong dependence of the coupled system ground state on the electron--hole asymmetries of the individual subsystems, as well as on their hybridization strengths to the respective reservoirs. The electrostatic repulsion produced by the capacitive coupling produces an effective shift of the individual energy levels toward higher energies, with a stronger effect on the `shallower' subsystem (that closer to resonance with the Fermi level), potentially pushing it out of the Kondo regime and dramatically changing the transport properties of the system. The effective remote gating that this entails is found to depend nonlinearly on the capacitive coupling strength, as well as on the independent subsystem levels. The analysis we present here of this mutual interaction should be important to fully characterize transport through such coupled systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Polarized currents and spatial separation of Kondo state: NRG study of spin-orbital effect in a double QD

A double quantum dot device, connected to two channels that only see each other through interdot Coulomb repulsion, is analyzed using the numerical renormalization group technique. By using a two-impurity Anderson model, and parameter values obtained from experiment [S. Amasha {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 110}, 046604 (2013)], it is shown that, by applying a moderate magnetic field, and adjusting the gate potential of each quantum dot, opposing spin polarizations are created in each channel. Furthermore, through a well defined change in the gate potentials, the polarizations can be reversed. This polarization effect is clearly associated to a spin-orbital Kondo state having a Kondo peak that originates from spatially separated parts of the device. This fact opens the exciting possibility of experimentally probing the internal structure of an SU(2) Kondo state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Effects of electron-phonon coupling in the Kondo regime of a two-orbital molecule

We study the interplay between strong electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions within a two-orbital molecule coupled to metallic leads, taking into account Holstein-like coupling of a local phonon mode to the molecular charge as well as phonon-mediated interorbital tunneling. By combining canonical transformations with numerical renormalization-group calculations to address the interactions nonperturbatively and on equal footing, we obtain a comprehensive description of the system's many-body physics in the anti-adiabatic regime where the phonons adjust rapidly to changes in the orbital occupancies, and are thereby able to strongly affect the Kondo physics. The electron-phonon interactions strongly modify the bare orbital energies and the Coulomb repulsion between electrons in the molecule, and tend to inhibit tunneling of electrons between the molecule and the leads. The consequences of these effects are considerably more pronounced when both molecular orbitals lie near the Fermi energy of the leads than when only one orbital is active. In situations where a local moment forms on the molecule, there is a crossover with increasing electron-phonon coupling from a regime of collective Kondo screening of the moment to a limit of local phonon quenching. At low temperatures, this crossover is associated with a rapid increase in the electronic occupancy of the molecule as well as a marked drop in the linear electrical conductance through the single-molecule junction.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Dimensionality effects in the LDOS of ferromagnetic hosts probed via STM: spin-polarized quantum beats and spin filtering

We theoretically investigate the local density of states (LDOS) probed by a STM tip of ferromagnetic metals hosting a single adatom and a subsurface impurity. We model the system via the two-impurity Anderson Hamiltonian. By using the equation of motion with the relevant Green functions, we derive analytical expressions for the LDOS of two host types: a surface and a quantum wire. The LDOS reveals Friedel-like oscillations and Fano interference as a function of the STM tip position. These oscillations strongly depend on the host dimension. Interestingly, we find that the spin-dependent Fermi wave numbers of the hosts give rise to spin-polarized quantum beats in the LDOS. While the LDOS for the metallic surface shows a damped beating pattern, it exhibits an opposite behavior in the quantum wire. Due to this absence of damping, the wire operates as a spatially resolved spin filter with a high efficiency.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Parity oscillations of Kondo temperature in a single molecule break junction

We study the Kondo temperature ($T_K$) of a single molecule break junction. By employing a numerical renormalization group calculations we have found that $T_K$ depends dramatically upon the position of the molecule in the wire formed between the contacts. We show that $T_K$ exhibits strong \emph{oscillations} when the parity of the left {and/or} right number of atomic sites ($N_L,N_R$) is changed. For a given set of parameters, the maximum value of $T_K$ occurs for ($odd,odd$) combination, while its minimum values is observed for ($even,even$). These oscillations are fully understood in terms of the effective hybridization function.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Kondo temperature and screening extension in a double dot system

In this work we use the Slave Boson Mean Field Approximation at finite U to study the effects of spin-spin correlations in the transport properties of two quantum dots coupled in series to metallic leads. Different quantum regimes of this system are studied in a wide range of parameter space. The main aspects related to the interplay between the half-filling Kondo effect and the antiferromagnetic correlation between the quantum dots are reviewed. Slave boson results for conductance, local density of states in the quantum dots, and the renormalized energy parameters, are presented. As a different approach to the Kondo physics in a double dot system, the Kondo cloud extension inside the metallic leads is calculated and its dependence with the inter-dot coupling is analyzed. In addition, the cloud extension permits the calculation of the Kondo temperature of the double quantum dot. This result is very similar to the corresponding critical temperature $T_c$, as a function of the parameters of the system, as obtained by using the finite temperature extension of the Slave Boson Mean Field Approximation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Enhanced photon-assisted spin transport in a quantum dot attached to ferromagnetic leads

We investigate real-time dynamics of spin-polarized current in a quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic leads in both parallel and antiparallel alignments. While an external bias voltage is taken constant in time, a gate terminal, capacitively coupled to the quantum dot, introduces a periodic modulation of the dot level. Using non equilibrium Green's function technique we find that spin polarized electrons can tunnel through the system via additional photon-assisted transmission channels. Owing to a Zeeman splitting of the dot level, it is possible to select a particular spin component to be photon-transfered from the left to the right terminal, with spin dependent current peaks arising at different gate frequencies. The ferromagnetic electrodes enhance or suppress the spin transport depending upon the leads magnetization alignment. The tunnel magnetoresistance also attains negative values due to a photon-assisted inversion of the spin-valve effect.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗