arXiv subjects

Francesco Giazotto

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Giazotto.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Towards phase-coherent caloritronics in superconducting circuits

The emerging field of phase-coherent caloritronics (from the Latin word "calor", i.e., heat) is based on the possibility to control heat currents using the phase difference of the superconducting order parameter. The goal is to design and implement thermal devices able to master energy transfer with a degree of accuracy approaching the one reached for charge transport by contemporary electronic components. This can be obtained by exploiting the macroscopic quantum coherence intrinsic to superconducting condensates, which manifests itself through the Josephson and the proximity effect. Here, we review recent experimental results obtained in the realization of heat interferometers and thermal rectifiers, and discuss a few proposals for exotic non-linear phase-coherent caloritronic devices, such as thermal transistors, solid-state memories, phase-coherent heat splitters, microwave refrigerators, thermal engines and heat valves. Besides being very attractive from the fundamental physics point of view, these systems are expected to have a vast impact on many cryogenic microcircuits requiring energy management, and possibly lay the first stone for the foundation of electronic thermal logic.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Phase-driven collapse of the Cooper condensate in a nanosized superconductor

Superconductivity can be understood in terms of a phase transition from an uncorrelated electron gas to a condensate of Cooper pairs in which the relative phases of the constituent electrons are coherent over macroscopic length scales. The degree of correlation is quantified by a complex-valued order parameter, whose amplitude is proportional to the strength of the pairing potential in the condensate. Supercurrent-carrying states are associated with non-zero values of the spatial gradient of the phase. The pairing potential and several physical observables of the Cooper condensate can be manipulated by means of temperature, current bias, dishomogeneities in the chemical composition or application of a magnetic field. Here we show evidence of complete suppression of the energy gap in the local density of quasiparticle states (DOS) of a superconducting nanowire upon establishing a phase difference equal to pi over a length scale comparable to the superconducting coherence length. These observations are consistent with a complete collapse of the pairing potential in the center of the wire, in accordance with theoretical modeling based on the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity in diffusive systems. Our spectroscopic data, fully exploring the phase-biased states of the condensate, highlight the profound effect that extreme phase gradients exert on the amplitude of the pairing potential. Moreover, the sharp magnetic response observed near the onset of the superconducting gap collapse regime can be exploited to realize ultra-low noise magnetic flux detectors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Hysteretic superconducting heat-flux quantum modulator

We discuss heat transport in a thermally-biased SQUID in the presence of an external magnetic flux, when a non-negligible inductance of the SQUID ring is taken into account. A properly sweeping driving flux causes the thermal current to modulate and behave hysteretically. The response of this device is analysed as a function of both the hysteresis parameter and degree of asymmetry of the SQUID, highlighting the parameter range over which hysteretic behavior is observable. Markedly, also the temperature of the SQUID shows hysteretic evolution, with sharp transitions characterized by temperature jumps up to, e.g., ~ 38mK for a realistic Al-based setup. In view of these results, the proposed device can effectively find application as a temperature-based superconducting memory element, working even at GHz frequencies by suitably choosing the superconductor on which the device is based.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

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.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

0-$π$ phase-controllable $thermal$ Josephson junction

Two superconductors coupled by a weak link support an equilibrium Josephson electrical current which depends on the phase difference $φ$ between the superconducting condensates [1]. Yet, when a temperature gradient is imposed across the junction, the Josephson effect manifests itself through a coherent component of the heat current that flows oppositely to the thermal gradient for $ φ<π/2$ [2-4]. The direction of both the Josephson charge and heat currents can be inverted by adding a $π$ shift to $φ$. In the static electrical case, this effect was obtained in a few systems, e.g. via a ferromagnetic coupling [5,6] or a non-equilibrium distribution in the weak link [7]. These structures opened new possibilities for superconducting quantum logic [6,8] and ultralow power superconducting computers [9]. Here, we report the first experimental realization of a thermal Josephson junction whose phase bias can be controlled from $0$ to $π$. This is obtained thanks to a superconducting quantum interferometer that allows to fully control the direction of the coherent energy transfer through the junction [10]. This possibility, joined to the completely superconducting nature of our system, provides temperature modulations with unprecedented amplitude of $\sim$ 100 mK and transfer coefficients exceeding 1 K per flux quantum at 25 mK. Then, this quantum structure represents a fundamental step towards the realization of caloritronic logic components, such as thermal transistors, switches and memory devices [10,11]. These elements, combined with heat interferometers [3,4,12] and diodes [13,14], would complete the thermal conversion of the most important phase-coherent electronic devices and benefit cryogenic microcircuits requiring energy management, such as quantum computing architectures and radiation sensors.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

InAs nanowire superconducting tunnel junctions: spectroscopy, thermometry and nanorefrigeration

We demonstrate an original method -- based on controlled oxidation -- to create high-quality tunnel junctions between superconducting Al reservoirs and InAs semiconductor nanowires. We show clean tunnel characteristics with a current suppression by over $4$ orders of magnitude for a junction bias well below the Al gap $Δ_0 \approx 200\,μ{\rm eV}$. The experimental data are in close agreement with the BCS theoretical expectations of a superconducting tunnel junction. The studied devices combine small-scale tunnel contacts working as thermometers as well as larger electrodes that provide a proof-of-principle active {\em cooling} of the electron distribution in the nanowire. A peak refrigeration of about $δT = 10\,{\rm mK}$ is achieved at a bath temperature $T_{bath}\approx250-350\,{\rm mK}$ in our prototype devices. This method opens important perspectives for the investigation of thermoelectric effects in semiconductor nanostructures and for nanoscale refrigeration.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Large Tunable Thermophase in Superconductor -- Quantum Dot -- Superconductor Josephson Junctions

In spite of extended efforts, detecting thermoelectric effects in superconductors have proven to be a challenging task, due to the inherent superconducting particle-hole symmetry. Here we present a theoretical study of an experimentally attainable Superconductor -- Quantum Dot -- Superconductor (SC-QD-SC) Josephson Junction with highly tunable thermoelectric properties and a thermal response that is far larger than previous suggestions. The QD energy level between the SCs breaks particle-hole symmetry in a gradual manner, allowing, in the presence of a temperature gradient, for gate controlled appearance of a superconducting thermo-phase. This thermo-phase increases up to a maximal value of $π/2$ after which thermovoltage is expected to develop. Using time-independent Keldysh countour Green's functions we derive the exact thermo-phase and thermal response on the junction. These are shown to be orders of magnitude larger than usual SC tunnel junctions with a sharp dependence on gate voltage.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Solitonic Josephson-based meminductive systems

Memristors, memcapacitors, and meminductors, collectively called memelements, represent an innovative generation of circuit elements whose properties depend on the state and history of the system. The hysteretic behavior of one of their constituent variables, under the effect of an external time-dependent perturbation, is their distinctive fingerprint. In turn, this feature endows them with the ability to both store and process information on the same physical location, a property that is expected to benefit many applications ranging from unconventional computing to adaptive electronics to robotics, to name just a few. For all these types of applications, it is important to find appropriate memelements that combine a wide range of memory states (multi-state memory), long memory retention times, and protection against unavoidable noise. Although several physical systems belong to the general class of memelements, few of them combine all of these important physical features in a single component. Her we demonstrate theoretically a superconducting memory structure based on solitonic long Josephson junctions (LJJs). We show that the Josephson critical current of the junction behaves hysteretically as an external magnetic field is properly swept. According to the hysteretic path displayed by the critical current, a LJJ can be used as a multi-state memory, with a controllable number of available states. In addition, since solitons are at the core of its operation, this system provides an intrinsic topological protection against external perturbations. Solitonic Josephson-based memelements may find applications as memories, and in other emerging areas such as memcomputing, i.e., computing directly in/by the memory.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Clocked single-spin source based on a spin-split superconductor

We propose an accurate clocked single-spin source for ac-spintronic applications. Our device consists of a superconducting island covered by a ferromagnetic insulator layer through which it is coupled to superconducting leads. Single-particle transfer relies on the energy gaps and the island's charging energy, and is enabled by a bias and a time-periodic gate voltage. Accurate spin transfer is achieved by the ferromagnetic insulator layer which polarizes the island, provides spin-selective tunneling barriers and improves the precision by suppressing Andreev reflection. We analyze realistic material combinations and experimental requirements which allow for a clocked spin current in the MHz regime.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Coherent diffraction of thermal currents in long Josephson tunnel junctions

We discuss heat transport in thermally-biased long Josephson tunnel junctions in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field. In full analogy with the Josephson critical current, the phase-dependent component of the heat current through the junction displays coherent diffraction. Thermal transport is analyzed as a function of both the length and the damping of the junction, highlighting deviations from the standard Fraunhofer pattern characteristic of short junctions. The heat current diffraction patterns show features strongly related to the formation and penetration of Josephson vortices, i.e. solitons. We show that a dynamical treatment of the system is crucial for the realistic description of the Josephson junction and it leads to peculiar results. In fact, hysteretic behaviors in the diffraction patterns when the field is swept up and down are observed, corresponding to the trapping of vortices in the junction.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

A Microwave Josephson Refrigerator

We present a microwave quantum refrigeration principle based on the Josephson effect. When a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is pierced by a time-dependent magnetic flux, it induces changes in the macroscopic quantum phase and an effective finite bias voltage appears across the SQUID. This voltage can be used to actively cool well below the lattice temperature one of the superconducting electrodes forming the interferometer. The achievable cooling performance combined with the simplicity and scalability intrinsic to the structure pave the way to a number of applications in quantum technology.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Negative differential thermal conductance and heat amplification in superconducting hybrid devices

We investigate the thermal transport properties of a temperature-biased Josephson tunnel junction composed of two different superconductors. We show that this simple system can provide a large negative differential thermal conductance (NDTC) with a peak-to-valley ratio of $\sim 3$ in the transmitted electronic heat current. The NDTC is then exploited to outline the caloritronic analogue of the tunnel diode, which can exhibit a modulation of the output temperature as large as 80 mK at a bath temperature of 50 mK. Moreover, this device may work in a regime of thermal hysteresis that can be used to store information as a thermal memory. On the other hand, the NDTC effect offers the opportunity to conceive two different designs of a thermal transistor, which might operate as a thermal switch or as an amplifier/modulator. The latter shows a heat amplification factor $>1$ in a 500-mK-wide working region of the gate temperature. After the successful realization of heat interferometers and thermal diodes, this kind of structures would complete the conversion of the most important electronic devices in their thermal counterparts, breaking ground for coherent caloritronics nanocircuits where heat currents can be manipulated at will.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Parasitic effects in SQUID-based radiation comb generators

We study several parasitic effects on the implementation of a Josephson radiation comb generator (JRCG) based on a dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) driven by an external magnetic field. This system can be used as a radiation generator similarly to what is done in optics and metrology, and allows one to generate up to several hundreds of harmonics of the driving frequency. First we take into account how assuming a finite loop geometrical inductance and junction capacitance in each SQUID may alter the operation of this device. Then, we estimate the effect of imperfections in the fabrication of an array of SQUIDs, which is an unavoidable source of errors in practical situations. We show that the role of the junction capacitance is in general negligible, whereas the geometrical inductance has a beneficial effect on the performance of the device. The errors on the areas and junction resistance asymmetries may deteriorate the performance, but their effect can be limited up to a large extent with a suitable choice of fabrication parameters.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Nanoscale phase-engineering of thermal transport with a Josephson heat modulator

Macroscopic quantum phase coherence has one of its pivotal expressions in the Josephson effect [1], which manifests itself both in charge [2] and energy transport [3-5]. The ability to master the amount of heat transferred through two tunnel-coupled superconductors by tuning their phase difference is the core of coherent caloritronics [4-6], and is expected to be a key tool in a number of nanoscience fields, including solid state cooling [7], thermal isolation [8, 9], radiation detection [7], quantum information [10, 11] and thermal logic [12]. Here we show the realization of the first balanced Josephson heat modulator [13] designed to offer full control at the nanoscale over the phase-coherent component of thermal currents. Our device provides magnetic-flux-dependent temperature modulations up to 40 mK in amplitude with a maximum of the flux-to-temperature transfer coefficient reaching 200 mK per flux quantum at a bath temperature of 25 mK. Foremost, it demonstrates the exact correspondence in the phase-engineering of charge and heat currents, breaking ground for advanced caloritronic nanodevices such as thermal splitters [14], heat pumps [15] and time-dependent electronic engines [16-19].

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Electronic heat current rectification in hybrid superconducting devices

In this work, we review and expand recent theoretical proposals for the realization of electronic thermal diodes based on tunnel-junctions of normal metal and superconducting thin films. Starting from the basic rectifying properties of a single hybrid tunnel junction, we will show how the rectification efficiency can be largely increased by combining multiple junctions in an asymmetric chain of tunnel-coupled islands. We propose three different designs, analyzing their performance and their potential advantages. Besides being relevant from a fundamental physics point of view, this kind of devices might find important technological application as fundamental building blocks in solid-state thermal nanocircuits and in general-purpose cryogenic electronic applications requiring energy management.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Superconducting cascade electron refrigerator

The design and operation of an electronic cooler based on a combination of superconducting tunnel junctions is described. The cascade extraction of hot-quasiparticles, which stems from the energy gaps of two different superconductors, allows for a normal metal to be cooled down to about 100 mK starting from a bath temperature of 0.5 K. We discuss the practical implementation, potential performance and limitations of such a device.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Large thermal biasing of individual gated nanostructures

We demonstrate a novel nanoheating scheme that yields very large and uniform temperature gradients up to about 1K every 100nm, in an architecture which is compatible with the field-effect control of the nanostructure under test. The temperature gradients demonstrated largely exceed those typically obtainable with standard resistive heaters fabricated on top of the oxide layer. The nanoheating platform is demonstrated in the specific case of a short-nanowire device.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Giant thermovoltage in single InAs-nanowire field-effect transistors

Millivolt range thermovoltage is demonstrated in single InAs-nanowire based field effect transistors. Thanks to a buried heating scheme, we drive both a large thermal bias DT>10K and a strong field-effect modulation of electric conductance on the nanostructures. This allows the precise mapping of the evolution of the Seebeck coefficient S as a function of the gate-controlled conductivity between room temperature and 100K$. Based on these experimental data a novel estimate of the electron mobility is given. This value is compared with the result of standard field-effect based mobility estimates and discussed in relation to the effect of charge traps in the devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗