arXiv subjects

F. Krizek

Publications and source records attributed to F. Krizek.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Superconductivity in epitaxial PtSb(0001) thin films

We report superconductivity in epitaxial PtSb(0001) thin films grown on SrF2(111). Electrical transport measurements reveal a superconducting transition at $T_{\mathrm c}=1.72$ K. The field-induced broadening of the transition and the presence of finite upper critical fields are consistent with type-II superconductivity. We determine the resistively defined upper critical fields for magnetic fields applied perpendicular and parallel to the film plane and parameterize their temperature dependence using an anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau approach. For the thickest film ($d=50$ nm), this yields coherence lengths of $\xi_{ab}\approx 55$ nm and $\xi_c\approx 14$ nm. Current-voltage characteristics show sizeable critical currents, with a critical current density reaching $J_{\mathrm c}\approx 6e4$ A/cm$^2$ at 0.5 K. These results establish epitaxial PtSb as a superconducting thin-film platform compatible with lattice-matched heterostructures in the NiAs-type materials family.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Unconventional relativistic spin polarization of electronic bands in an altermagnet

Altermagnetism is a recently identified phase with a d, g or i-wave spin symmetry of magnetic ordering. Its discovery opens new research fronts at intersections of magnetism and spintronics with fields ranging from superconductivity to topological and relativistic quantum physics. Here we demonstrate an unconventional relativistic spin polarization in an altermagnet by spin and angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy of electronic bands in single-domain MnTe. The relativistic spin-orbit coupling origin is revealed by observing that the alternating momentum-dependent spin polarization is orthogonal to the magnetic-ordering vector. The collinearity, even-parity and time-reversal-odd nature of the demonstrated relativistic spin polarization in the altermagnet is unparalleled in conventional forms of the relativistic spin polarization. Our experimental results and methodology are supported by non-relativistic spin-symmetry and relativistic magnetic-symmetry analyses, and microscopic ab initio ground-state and photoemission theory.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Sub-nanosecond heat-based logic, writing and reset in an antiferromagnetic magnetoresistive memory

Thermal logic aims to create thermal counterparts to electronic circuits. In this work, we investigate experimentally the response of an analog memory device based on a thin film of an antiferromagnetic metal CuMnAs to bursts of heat pulses generated by the absorption of femtosecond laser pulses at room ambient temperature. When a threshold temperature in the heat-based short-term memory of the device is exceeded, the output of the in-memory logic operations is transferred within the same device to a long-term memory, where it can be retrieved at macroscopic times. The long-term memory is based on magnetoresistive switching from a reference low-resistive uniform magnetic state to high-resistive metastable nanofragmented magnetic states. The in-memory heat-based logic operations and the conversion of the outputs into the electrically-readable long-term magnetoresistive memory were performed at sub-nanosecond time scales, making them compatible with the GHz frequencies of standard electronics. Finally, we demonstrate the possibility of rapidly resetting the long-term memory to the reference low-resistive state by heat pulses.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Altermagnetic spintronics

The research landscape of magnetism has been recently enriched by the discovery of altermagnetism. It is an unconventional phase of matter characterized by a d-wave (or higher even-parity-wave) collinear compensated spin ordering, which enables strongly spin-polarized currents in the absence of magnetization, and features fast spin dynamics. Simultaneously, on the applied magnetism front, spintronic memories based on conventional ferromagnets are currently turning from a niche to a mass produced integrated-circuit technology as they start to complement semiconductors on advanced-node microprocessor chips. Our review connects these two rapidly developing science and technology fields by discussing how the unique signatures of altermagnetism can impact the functionality and scalability of future spintronic devices. As a reference, we first briefly recall the merits and physical limitations of the present ferromagnetic spintronic technology, and of proof-of-concept spintronic devices based on conventional collinear antiferromagnets and non-collinear compensated magnets. The main part of the review then focuses on physical concepts of the altermagnetic spintronics, and its potential interplay with ferroelectricity or superconductivity. We conclude with an outlook on the nascent experimental research of altermagnetic spintronics, and on the role of relativistic phenomena.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Voltage-tuned anomalous-metal to metal transition in hybrid Josephson junction arrays

We report voltage-tuned phase transitions in arrays of hybrid semiconductor-superconductor islands arranged in a square lattice. A double-layer electrostatic gate geometry enables independent tuning of inter-island coupling and proximity-induced superconductivity. This design enables access to the superconductor-insulator, superconductor-metal, and metal-insulator transitions in a single device, revealing critical points and emergent intermediate phases. We find that the superconductor-insulator transition is interrupted by an anomalous metallic phase with saturating low-temperature resistivity. Across gate voltages, this regime extends over three orders of magnitude in resistivity and can be continuously tuned into the conventional metallic phase. The signature of the anomalous metallic phase is suppressed by magnetic frustration.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Picosecond transfer from short-term to long-term memory in analog antiferromagnetic memory device

Previous experiments in compensated magnets have demonstrated a potential for approaching the limit of fastest and least-dissipative operation of digital memory bits. However, the analog route has been virtually unexplored at (sub)ps time scales. In this paper, we report on experimental separation of heat-related and quench-switching-related resistance signal dynamics induced at room temperature by a single femtosecond-laser-pulse in memory devices made from a metallic antiferromagnetic CuMnAs. We show that the heat-related dynamics, on picosecond to hundreds of nanoseconds time scales, can be used as a short-term memory where information about input stimuli, represented by laser-pulses, is stored temporarily. When the quench-switching threshold is reached, information is transferred to the device's variable resistance, serving as a long-term memory, with time components of 10 ms and 10 s. The potentially appealing features of the heat-based memory for several distinct research fields, including bio-inspired analogue devices and heat-based logic, are also discussed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Flux-Tunable Josephson Diode Effect in a Hybrid Four-Terminal Josephson Junction

We investigate the direction-dependent switching current in a flux-tunable four-terminal Josephson junction defined in an InAs/Al two-dimensional heterostructure. The device exhibits the Josephson diode effect, with switching currents that depend on the sign of the bias current. The superconducting diode efficiency, reaching a maximum of $|\eta|\approx34\%$, is widely tunable - both in amplitude and sign - as a function of magnetic fluxes and gate voltages. Our observations are supported by a circuit model of three parallel Josephson junctions with non-sinusoidal current-phase relation. With respect to conventional Josephson interferometers, phase-tunable multiterminal Josephson junctions enable large diode efficiencies in structurally symmetric devices, where local magnetic fluxes break both time-reversal and spatial-inversion symmetries. Our work establishes a pathway to develop Josephson diodes with wide-range tunability and that do not rely on exotic materials or externally applied magnetic fields.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Spin-degeneracy breaking and parity transitions in three-terminal Josephson junctions

Harnessing spin and parity degrees of freedom is of fundamental importance for the realization of emergent quantum devices. Nanostructures embedded in superconductor--semiconductor hybrid materials offer novel and yet unexplored routes for addressing and manipulating fermionic modes. Here we spectroscopically probe the two-dimensional band structure of Andreev bound states in a phase-controlled hybrid three-terminal Josephson junction. Andreev bands reveal spin-degeneracy breaking, with level splitting in excess of 9 GHz, and zero-energy crossings associated to ground state fermion parity transitions, in agreement with theoretical predictions. Both effects occur without the need of external magnetic fields or sizable charging energies and are tuned locally by controlling superconducting phase differences. Our results highlight the potential of multiterminal hybrid devices for engineering quantum states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Flip-chip-based fast inductive parity readout of a planar superconducting island

Properties of superconducting devices depend sensitively on the parity (even or odd) of the quasiparticles they contain. Encoding quantum information in the parity degree of freedom is central in several emerging solid-state qubit architectures. Yet, accurate, non-destructive, and time-resolved parity measurement is a challenging and long-standing issue. Here we report on control and real-time parity measurement in a superconducting island embedded in a superconducting loop and realized in a hybrid two-dimensional heterostructure using a microwave resonator. Device and readout resonator are located on separate chips, connected via flip-chip bonding, and couple inductively through vacuum. The superconducting resonator detects the parity-dependent circuit inductance, allowing for fast and non-destructive parity readout. We resolved even and odd parity states with signal-to-noise ratio SNR $\approx3$ with an integration time of $20~\mu$s and detection fidelity exceeding 98%. Real-time parity measurement showed state lifetime extending into millisecond range. Our approach will lead to better understanding of coherence-limiting mechanisms in superconducting quantum hardware and provide novel readout schemes for hybrid qubits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Zeeman and Orbital Driven Phase Transitions in Planar Josephson Junctions

We perform supercurrent and tunneling spectroscopy measurements on gate-tunable InAs/Al Josephson junctions (JJs) in an in-plane magnetic field, and report on phase shifts in the current-phase relation measured with respect to an absolute phase reference. The impact of orbital effects is investigated by studying multiple devices with different superconducting lead sizes. At low fields, we observe gate-dependent phase shifts of up to ${\varphi_{0}=0.5\pi}$ which are consistent with a Zeeman field coupling to highly-transmissive Andreev bound states via Rashba spin-orbit interaction. A distinct phase shift emerges at larger fields, concomitant with a switching current minimum and the closing and reopening of the superconducting gap. These signatures of an induced phase transition, which might resemble a topological transition, scale with the superconducting lead size, demonstrating the crucial role of orbital effects. Our results elucidate the interplay of Zeeman, spin-orbit and orbital effects in InAs/Al JJs, giving new understanding to phase transitions in hybrid JJs and their applications in quantum computing and superconducting electronics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Demonstration of nonlocal Josephson effect in Andreev molecules

We perform switching current measurements of planar Josephson junctions (JJs) coupled by a common superconducting electrode, with independent control over the two superconducting phase differences. We observe an anomalous phase shift in the current--phase relation of a JJ as a function of gate voltage or phase difference in the second JJ. This demonstrates a nonlocal Josephson effect, and the implementation of a $\varphi_0$-junction which is tunable both electrostatically and magnetically. The anomalous phase shift was larger for shorter distances between the JJs and vanished for distances much longer than the superconducting coherence length. Results are consistent with the hybridization of ABSs, leading to the formation of an Andreev molecule. Our devices constitute a realization of a tunable superconducting phase source, and could enable new coupling schemes for hybrid quantum devices.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Phase-engineering the Andreev band structure of a three-terminal Josephson junction

In hybrid Josephson junctions with three or more superconducting terminals coupled to a semiconducting region, Andreev bound states may form unconventional energy band structures, or Andreev matter, which are engineered by controlling superconducting phase differences. Here we report tunnelling spectroscopy measurements of three-terminal Josephson junctions realised in an InAs/Al heterostructure. The three terminals are connected to form two loops, enabling independent control over two phase differences and access to a synthetic Andreev band structure in the two-dimensional phase space. Our results demonstrate a phase-controlled Andreev molecule, originating from two discrete Andreev levels that spatially overlap and hybridise. Signatures of hybridisation are observed in the form of avoided crossings in the spectrum and band structure anisotropies in the phase space, all explained by a numerical model. Future extensions of this work could focus on addressing spin-resolved energy levels, ground state fermion parity transitions and Weyl bands in multiterminal geometries.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Control over epitaxy and the role of the InAs/Al interface in hybrid two-dimensional electron gas systems

In-situ synthesised semiconductor/superconductor hybrid structures became an important material platform in condensed matter physics. Their development enabled a plethora of novel quantum transport experiments with focus on Andreev and Majorana physics. The combination of InAs and Al has become the workhorse material and has been successfully implemented in the form of one-dimensional structures and two-dimensional electron gases. In contrast to the well-developed semiconductor parts of the hybrid materials, the direct effect of the crystal nanotexture of Al films on the electron transport still remains unclear. This is mainly due to the complex epitaxial relation between Al and the semiconductor. We present a study of Al films on shallow InAs two-dimensional electron gas systems grown by molecular beam epitaxy, with focus on control of the Al crystal structure. We identify the dominant grain types present in our Al films and show that the formation of grain boundaries can be significantly reduced by controlled roughening of the epitaxial interface. Finally, we demonstrate that the implemented roughening does not negatively impact either the electron mobility of the two-dimensional electron gas or the basic superconducting properties of the proximitized system.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Flip-chip-based microwave spectroscopy of Andreev bound states in a planar Josephson junction

We demonstrate a flip-chip-based approach to microwave measurements of Andreev bound states in a gate-tunable planar Josephson junction using inductively-coupled superconducting low-loss resonators. By means of electrostatic gating, we present control of both the density and transmission of Andreev bound states. Phase biasing of the device shifted the resonator frequency, consistent with the modulation of supercurrent in the junction. Two-tone spectroscopy measurements revealed an isolated Andreev bound state consistent with an average induced superconducting gap of $184~\mathrm{\mu eV}$ and a gate-tunable transmission approaching $0.98$. Our results represent the feasibility of using the flip-chip technique to address and study Andreev bound states in planar Josephson junctions, and they give a promising path towards microwave applications with superconductor-semiconductor two-dimensional materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Microwave-induced conductance replicas in hybrid Josephson junctions without Floquet-Andreev states

Light-matter interaction enables engineering of non-equilibrium quantum systems. In condensed matter, spatially and temporally cyclic Hamiltonians are expected to generate energy-periodic Floquet states, with properties inaccessible at thermal equilibrium. A recent work explored the tunnelling conductance of a planar Josephson junction under microwave irradiation, and interpreted replicas of conductance features as evidence of steady Floquet-Andreev states. Here we realise a similar device in a hybrid superconducting-semiconducting heterostructure, which utilises a tunnelling probe with gate-tunable transparency and allows simultaneous measurements of Andreev spectrum and current-phase relation of the planar Josephson junction. We show that, in our devices, spectral replicas in sub-gap conductance emerging under microwave irradiation are caused by photon assisted tunnelling of electrons into Andreev states. The current-phase relation under microwave irradiation is also explained by the interaction of Andreev states with microwave photons, without the need to invoke Floquet states. The techniques outlined in this study establish a baseline to distinguish photon assisted tunnelling from Floquet-Andreev states in mesoscopic devices, a crucial development towards understanding light-matter coupling in hybrid nanostructures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Future physics opportunities for high-density QCD at the LHC with heavy-ion and proton beams

The future opportunities for high-density QCD studies with ion and proton beams at the LHC are presented. Four major scientific goals are identified: the characterisation of the macroscopic long wavelength Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) properties with unprecedented precision, the investigation of the microscopic parton dynamics underlying QGP properties, the development of a unified picture of particle production and QCD dynamics from small (pp) to large (nucleus--nucleus) systems, the exploration of parton densities in nuclei in a broad ($x$, $Q^2$) kinematic range and the search for the possible onset of parton saturation. In order to address these scientific goals, high-luminosity Pb-Pb and p-Pb programmes are considered as priorities for Runs 3 and 4, complemented by high-multiplicity studies in pp collisions and a short run with oxygen ions. High-luminosity runs with intermediate-mass nuclei, for example Ar or Kr, are considered as an appealing case for extending the heavy-ion programme at the LHC beyond Run 4. The potential of the High-Energy LHC to probe QCD matter with newly-available observables, at twice larger center-of-mass energies than the LHC, is investigated.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Selective Area Grown Semiconductor-Superconductor Hybrids: A Basis for Topological Networks

We introduce selective area grown hybrid InAs/Al nanowires based on molecular beam epitaxy, allowing arbitrary semiconductor-superconductor networks containing loops and branches. Transport reveals a hard induced gap and unpoisoned 2e-periodic Coulomb blockade, with temperature dependent 1e features in agreement with theory. Coulomb peak spacing in parallel magnetic field displays overshoot, indicating an oscillating discrete near-zero subgap state consistent with device length. Finally, we investigate a loop network, finding strong spin-orbit coupling and a coherence length of several microns. These results demonstrate the potential of this platform for scalable topological networks among other applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Analysis of pion production data measured by HADES in proton-proton collisions at 1.25 GeV

Baryon resonance production in proton-proton collisions at a kinetic beam energy of 1.25 GeV is investigated. The multi-differential data were measured by the HADES collaboration. Exclusive channels with one pion in the final state ($npπ^{+}$ and $ppπ^{0}$) were put to extended studies based on various observables in the framework of a one-pion exchange model and with solutions obtained within the framework of a partial wave analysis (PWA) of the Bonn-Gatchina group. The results of the PWA confirm the dominant contribution of the $Δ$(1232), yet with a sizable impact of the $N$(1440) and non-resonant partial waves.

nucl-ex↗