arXiv subjects

G. Giavaras

Publications and source records attributed to G. Giavaras.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Quantum dot energy levels in bilayer graphene: Exact and approximate study

In bilayer graphene the exact energy levels of quantum dots can be derived from the four-component continuum Hamiltonian. Here, we study the quantum dot energy levels with approximate equations and compare them with the exact levels. The starting point of our approach is the four-component continuum model and the quantum dot is defined by a continuous potential well in a uniform magnetic field. Using some simple arguments we demonstrate realistic regimes where approximate quantum dot equations can be derived. Interestingly these approximate equations can be solved semi-analytically, in the same context as a single-component Schrödinger equation. The approximate equations provide valuable insight into the physics with minimal numerical effort compared with the four-component quantum dot model. We show that the approximate quantum dot energy levels agree very well with the exact levels in a broad range of parameters and find realistic regimes where the relative error is vanishingly small.

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arXiv2025

Flux-tunable parity-protected qubit based on a single full-shell nanowire Josephson junction

Leveraging the higher harmonics content of the Josephson potential in a superconducting circuit offers a promising route in the search for new qubits with increased protection against decoherence. In this work, we demonstrate how the flux tunability of a hybrid semiconductor-superconductor Josephson junction based on a single full-shell nanowire enables this possibility. Near one flux quantum, $Φ\approx Φ_0=h/2e$, we find that the qubit system can be tuned from a gatemon regime to a parity-protected regime with qubit eigenstates localized in phase space in the $0$ and $π$ minima of the Josephson potential ($\cos 2φ_0$). Estimates of qubit coherence and relaxation times due to different noise sources are presented.

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arXiv2025

Resonant current from singlet-triplet state mixing in coupled quantum dots

Electrically driven spin resonances in double quantum dots can lift the spin blockade and give rise to a resonant current. This current can probe the properties of coupled two-spin states for different quantum dot configurations. Using a Floquet-Markov quantum transport model we compute the resonant current for different driving amplitudes and ac field frequencies in spin-orbit coupled quantum dots. We show that the resonant current has a very rich interference pattern which can give valuable insight into the singlet-triplet state mixing.

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arXiv2023

Flux-tunable supercurrent in full-shell nanowire Josephson junctions

Full-shell nanowires (a semiconducting core fully wrapped by an epitaxial superconducting shell) have recently been introduced as promising hybrid quantum devices. Despite this, however, their properties when forming a Josephson junction (JJ) have not been elucidated yet. We here fill this void by theoretically studying the physics of JJs based on full-shell nanowires. In the hollow-core limit, where the thickness of the semiconducting layer can be ignored, we demonstrate that the critical supercurrent $I^{c}$ can be tuned by an external magnetic flux $Φ$. Specifically, $I^{c}(Φ)$ does not follow the Little-Parks modulation of the superconducting pairing $Δ(Φ)$, and exhibits steps for realistic values of nanowire radii. The position of the steps can be understood from the underlying symmetries of the orbital transverse channels which contribute to the supercurrent for a given chemical potential.

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arXiv2021

Energy spectra of graphene quantum dots induced between Landau levels

When an energy gap is induced in monolayer graphene the valley degeneracy is broken and the energy spectrum of a confined system such as a quantum dot, becomes rather complex exhibiting many irregular level crossings and small energy spacings which are very sensitive to the applied magnetic field. Here we study the energy spectrum of a graphene quantum dot that is formed between Landau levels, and show that for the appropriate potential well the dot energy spectrum in the first Landau gap can have a simple pattern with energies coming from one of the two valleys only. This part of the spectrum has no crossings, has specific angular momentum numbers, and the energy spacing can be large enough, consequently, it can be probed with standard spectroscopic techniques. The magnetic field dependence of the dot levels as well as the effect of the mass-induced energy gap are examined, and some regimes leading to a controllable quantum dot are specified. At high magnetic fields and negative angular momentum a simple approximate method to the Dirac equation is developed which gives further insight into the physics. The approximate energies exhibit the correct trends and agree well with the exact energies.

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arXiv2020

Microwave spectroscopy of spin-orbit coupled states: energy detuning versus interdot coupling modulation

We study the AC field induced current peaks of a spin blockaded double quantum dot with spin-orbit interaction. The AC field modulates either the interdot tunnel coupling or the energy detuning, and we choose the AC field frequency range to induce two singlet-triplet transitions giving rise to two current peaks. We show that for a large detuning the two current peaks can be significantly stronger when the AC field modulates the tunnel coupling, thus making the detection of the spin-orbit gap more efficient. We also demonstrate the importance of the time dependence of the spin-orbit interaction.

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arXiv2020

Probing the singlet-triplet splitting in double quantum dots: Implications of the ac field amplitude

We consider a double quantum dot whose energy detuning is controlled by an ac electric field. We demonstrate an energy configuration for which the ac-induced current flowing through the double dot directly probes the spin-orbit anticrossing point for small ac field amplitudes. On the contrary, as the ac amplitude increases a current antiresonance is formed, and the direct information about the spin-orbit interaction is lost. This result indicates that a large ac amplitude is not necessarily advantageous for the spectroscopy of spin-orbit coupled two-spin states. Moreover, we investigate the ac-induced current peaks versus the ac amplitude and show a current suppression when the ac field forms spin blocked states. This effect gives rise to a characteristic pattern for the current which can be controlled at will by tuning the ac amplitude. Our results can be explored by performing electronic transport measurements in the spin blockade regime.

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arXiv2019

Spectroscopy of double quantum dot two-spin states by tuning the inter-dot barrier

Transport spectroscopy of two-spin states in a double quantum dot can be performed by an AC electric field which tunes the energy detuning. However, a problem arises when the transition rate between the states is small and, consequently, the AC-induced current is suppressed. Here, we show that if the AC field tunes the inter-dot tunnel barrier then for large detuning the transition rate increases drastically resulting in high current. Multi-photon resonances are enhanced by orders of magnitude. Our study demonstrates an efficient way for fast two-spin transitions.

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arXiv2017

Hole spin resonance and spin-orbit coupling in a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor

We study hole spin resonance in a p-channel silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor. In the sub-threshold region, the measured source-drain current reveals a double dot in the channel. The observed spin resonance spectra agree with a model of strongly coupled two-spin states in the presence of a spin-orbit-induced anti-crossing. Detailed spectroscopy at the anti-crossing shows a suppressed spin resonance signal due to spin-orbit-induced quantum state mixing. This suppression is also observed for multi-photon spin resonances. Our experimental observations agree with theoretical calculations.

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arXiv2013

Electrical current and coupled electron-nuclear spin dynamics in double quantum dots

We examine electronic transport in a spin-blockaded double quantum dot. We show that by tuning the strength of the spin-orbit interaction the current flowing through the double dot exhibits a dip at zero magnetic field or a peak at a magnetic field for which the two-electron energy levels anticross. This behaviour is due to the dependence of the singlet-triplet mixing on the field and spin-orbit amplitude. We derive approximate expressions for the current as a function of the amplitudes of the states involved in the transport. We also consider an alternative model that takes into account a finite number of nuclear spins and study the resulting coupled dynamics between electron and nuclear spins. We show that if the spin ensemble is in a thermal state there are regular oscillations in the transient current followed by quasi-chaotic revivals akin to those seen in a thermal Jaynes-Cummings model.

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arXiv2012

Tunable quantum dots in monolayer graphene

We examine a graphene quantum dot formed by combining an electric and a uniform magnetic field. The electric field creates a smooth quantum well potential while the magnetic field induces an exponential tail to the dot states. The states peak in the well and the electrostatic barrier region as a result of the Klein tunneling effect. Coupling between dot states which peak in different regions can be achieved with the electric and magnetic fields. The tunability of this dot with moderate external fields could be used for designing quantum devices in monolayer graphene.

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arXiv2011

Dirac gap-induced graphene quantum dot in an electrostatic potential

A spatially modulated Dirac gap in a graphene sheet leads to charge confinement, thus enabling a graphene quantum dot to be formed without the application of external electric and magnetic fields [Appl. Phys. Lett. \textbf{97}, 243106 (2010)]. This can be achieved provided the Dirac gap has a local minimum in which the states become localised. In this work, the physics of such a gap-induced dot is investigated in the continuum limit by solving the Dirac equation. It is shown that gap-induced confined states couple to the states introduced by an electrostatic quantum well potential. Hence the region in which the resulting hybridized states are localised can be tuned with the potential strength, an effect which involves Klein tunneling. The proposed quantum dot may be used to probe quasi-relativistic effects in graphene, while the induced confined states may be useful for graphene-based nanostructures.

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arXiv2011

Electronic properties of mesoscopic graphene structures: charge confinement and control of spin and charge transport

This brief review discusses electronic properties of mesoscopic graphene-based structures. These allow controlling the confinement and transport of charge and spin; thus, they are of interest not only for fundamental research, but also for applications. The graphene-related topics covered here are: edges, nanoribbons, quantum dots, $pn$-junctions, $pnp$-structures, and quantum barriers and waveguides. This review is partly intended as a short introduction to graphene mesoscopics.

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arXiv2011

Graphene quantum dots formed by a spatial modulation of the Dirac gap

An electrostatic quantum dot cannot be formed in monolayer graphene, because of the Klein tunnelling. However, a dot can be formed with the help of a uniform magnetic field. As shown here, a spatial modulation of the Dirac gap leads to confined states with discrete energy levels, thus defining a dot, without applying external electric and magnetic fields. Gap-induced dot states can coexist and couple with states introduced by an electrostatic potential. This property allows the region in which the resulting states are localized to be tuned with the potential.

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arXiv2010

Single Spin Detection with a Carbon Nanotube Double Quantum Dot

Spin qubits defined in carbon nanotube quantum dots are of considerable interest for encoding and manipulating quantum information because of the long electron spin coherence times expected. However, before carbon nanotubes can find applications in quantum information processing schemes, we need to understand and control the coupling between individual electron spins and the interaction between the electron spins and their environment. Here we make use of spin selection rules to directly measure - and demonstrate control of - the singlet-triplet exchange coupling between two carbon nanotube quantum dots. We furthermore elucidate the effects of spin-orbit interaction on the electron transitions and investigate the interaction of the quantum dot system with a single impurity spin - the ultimate limit in spin sensitivity.

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arXiv2010

Spin detection at elevated temperatures using a driven double quantum dot

We consider a double quantum dot in the Pauli blockade regime interacting with a nearby single spin. We show that under microwave irradiation the average electron occupations of the dots exhibit resonances that are sensitive to the state of the nearby spin. The system thus acts as a spin meter for the nearby spin. We investigate the conditions for a non-demolition read-out of the spin and find that the meter works at temperatures comparable to the dot charging energy and sensitivity is mainly limited by the intradot spin relaxation.

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arXiv2008

Magnetic field induced confinement-deconfinement transition in graphene quantum dots

Massless Dirac particles cannot be confined by an electrostatic potential. This is a problem for making graphene quantum dots but confinement can be achieved with a magnetic field and here, general conditions for confined and deconfined states are derived. There is a class of potentials for which the character of the state can be controlled at will. Then a confinement-deconfinement transition occurs which allows the Klein paradox to be probed experimentally in graphene dots.

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arXiv2008

Generation of EPR pairs and interconversion of static and flying electron spin qubits

We propose a method of generating fully entangled electron spin pairs using an open static quantum dot and a moving quantum dot, realized by the propagation of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) along a quasi-one-dimensional channel in a semiconductor heterostructure. In particular, we consider a static dot (SD) loaded with two interacting electrons in a singlet state and demonstrate a mechanism which enables the moving SAW-dot to capture and carry along one of the electrons, hence yielding a fully entangled static-flying pair. We also show how with the same mechanism we can load the SD with one or two electrons which are initially carried by a SAW-induced dot. The feasibility of realizing these ideas with existing semiconductor technology is demonstrated and extended to yield flying or static pairs that are fully entangled and arbitrary interconversion of static and flying electron spin qubits.

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