arXiv subjects

P. Simon

Publications and source records attributed to P. Simon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Determining the spin-orbit coupling via spin-polarized spectroscopy of magnetic impurities

We study the spin-resolved spectral properties of the impurity states associated to the presence of magnetic impurities in two-dimensional, as well as one-dimensional systems with Rashba spin-orbit coupling. We focus on Shiba bound states in superconducting materials, as well as on impurity states in metallic systems. Using a combination of a numerical T-matrix approximation and a direct analytical calculation of the bound state wave function, we compute the local density of states (LDOS) together with its Fourier transform (FT). We find that the FT of the spin-polarized LDOS, a quantity accessible via spin-polarized STM, allows to accurately extract the strength of the spin-orbit coupling. Also we confirm that the presence of magnetic impurities is strictly necessary for such measurement, and that non-spin-polarized experiments cannot have access to the value of the spin-orbit coupling.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Kondo resonance of a Co atom exchange coupled to a ferromagnetic tip

The Kondo effect of a Co atom on Cu(100) was investigated with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope using a monoatomically sharp nickel tip. Upon a tip-Co contact, the differential conductance spectra exhibit a spin-split asymmetric Kondo resonance. The computed ab initio value of the exchange coupling is too small to suppress the Kondo effect, but sufficiently large to produce the splitting observed. A quantitative analysis of the line shape using the numerical renormalization group technique indicates that the junction spin polarization is weak.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Electron phase shift at the zero-bias anomaly of quantum point contacts

The Kondo effect is the many-body screening of a local spin by a cloud of electrons at very low temperature. It has been proposed as an explanation of the zero-bias anomaly in quantum point contacts where interactions drive a spontaneous charge localization. However, the Kondo origin of this anomaly remains under debate, and additional experimental evidence is necessary. Here we report on the first phase-sensitive measurement of the zero-bias anomaly in quantum point contacts using a scanning gate microscope to create an electronic interferometer. We observe an abrupt shift of the interference fringes by half a period in the bias range of the zero-bias anomaly, a behavior which cannot be reproduced by single-particle models. We instead relate it to the phase shift experienced by electrons scattering off a Kondo system. Our experiment therefore provides new evidence of this many-body effect in quantum point contacts.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Dark Matter Search Results from the PICO-60 CF$_3$I Bubble Chamber

New data are reported from the operation of the PICO-60 dark matter detector, a bubble chamber filled with 36.8 kg of CF$_3$I and located in the SNOLAB underground laboratory. PICO-60 is the largest bubble chamber to search for dark matter to date. With an analyzed exposure of 92.8 livedays, PICO-60 exhibits the same excellent background rejection observed in smaller bubble chambers. Alpha decays in PICO-60 exhibit frequency-dependent acoustic calorimetry, similar but not identical to that reported recently in a C$_3$F$_8$ bubble chamber. PICO-60 also observes a large population of unknown background events, exhibiting acoustic, spatial, and timing behaviors inconsistent with those expected from a dark matter signal. These behaviors allow for analysis cuts to remove all background events while retaining $48.2\%$ of the exposure. Stringent limits on weakly interacting massive particles interacting via spin-dependent proton and spin-independent processes are set, and most interpretations of the DAMA/LIBRA modulation signal as dark matter interacting with iodine nuclei are ruled out.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2015

Majoranas with and without a 'character': hybridization, braiding and Majorana number

In this paper we demonstrate under what conditions a pseudo-spin degree of freedom or character can be ascribed to the Majorana bound states (MBS) which can be created at the end of one dimensional non-interacting systems, corresponding to D, DIII and BDI in the usual classification scheme. We have found that such a character is directly related to the class of the topological superconductor and its description by a $\mathbb{Z}$, rather than a $\mathbb{Z}_2$, invariant which corresponds to the BDI class. We have also found that the DIII case with mirror symmetry, which supports multiple MBS, is in fact equivalent to the BDI class with an additional time-reversal symmetry. In all cases where a character can be given to the Majorana states we show how to construct the appropriate operator explicitly in various examples. We also examine the consequences of the Majorana character by considering possible hybridization of MBS brought into proximity and find that two MBS with the same character do not hybridize. Finally, we show that having this character or not has no consequence on the braiding properties of MBS.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Fluctuation-Dissipation Relations of a Tunnel Junction Driven by a Quantum Circuit

We derive fluctuation-dissipation relations for a tunnel junction driven by a high impedance microwave resonator, displaying strong quantum fluctuations. We find that the fluctuation-dissipation relations derived for classical forces hold, provided the effect of the circuit's quantum fluctuations is incorporated into a modified non-linear $I(V)$ curve. We also demonstrate that all quantities measured under a coherent time dependent bias can be reconstructed from their dc counterpart with a photo-assisted tunneling relation. We confirm these predictions by implementing the circuit and measuring the dc current through the junction, its high frequency admittance and its current noise at the frequency of the resonator.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

CFHTLenS: A Gaussian likelihood is a sufficient approximation for a cosmological analysis of third-order cosmic shear statistics

We study the correlations of the shear signal between triplets of sources in the Canada-France-Hawaii Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS) to probe cosmological parameters via the matter bispectrum. In contrast to previous studies, we adopted a non-Gaussian model of the data likelihood which is supported by our simulations of the survey. We find that for state-of-the-art surveys, similar to CFHTLenS, a Gaussian likelihood analysis is a reasonable approximation, albeit small differences in the parameter constraints are already visible. For future surveys we expect that a Gaussian model becomes inaccurate. Our algorithm for a refined non-Gaussian analysis and data compression is then of great utility especially because it is not much more elaborate if simulated data are available. Applying this algorithm to the third-order correlations of shear alone in a blind analysis, we find a good agreement with the standard cosmological model: $Σ_8$=$σ_8$ $(Ω_{\rm m}/0.27)^{0.64}$=$0.79^{+0.08}_{-0.11}$ for a flat $Λ\rm CDM$ cosmology with $h=0.7\pm0.04$ ($68\%$ credible interval). Nevertheless our models provide only moderately good fits as indicated by $χ^2/{\rm dof}=2.9$, including a $20\%$ r.m.s. uncertainty in the predicted signal amplitude. The models cannot explain a signal drop on scales around 15 arcmin, which may be caused by systematics. It is unclear whether the discrepancy can be fully explained by residual PSF systematics of which we find evidence at least on scales of a few arcmin. Therefore we need a better understanding of higher-order correlations of cosmic shear and their systematics to confidently apply them as cosmological probes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Dynamical Coulomb Blockade in an interacting 1D system coupled to an arbitrary environment

We study the out-of-equilibrium transport in a Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid containing a weak or a tunneling barrier coupled to an arbitrary electromagnetic environment. This applies as well to a coherent one-channel non-interacting conductor with a transmission coefficient close to one or to zero. We derive formal expressions for the current and finite-frequency (FF) noise at arbitrary voltages, temperatures and frequency-dependent impedance $Z(ω)$ in the regimes of weak and strong backscattering. We show that these two regimes are no longer related by duality at finite frequency. We then carry explicit computations of the nonlinear conductance and FF noise when $Z(ω)$ describes an harmonic oscillator such as a LC circuit or a cavity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

From Andreev bound states to Majorana fermions in topological wires on superconducting substrates : a story of mutation

We study the proximity effect in a topological nanowire tunnel coupled to an s-wave superconducting substrate. We use a general Green's function approach that allows us to study the evolution of the Andreev bound states in the wire into Majorana fermions. We show that the strength of the tunnel coupling induces a topological transition in which the Majorana fermionic states can be destroyed when the coupling is very strong. Moreover, we provide a phenomenologial study of the effects of disorder in the superconductor on the formation of Majorana fermions. We note a non-trivial effect of a quasiparticle broadening term which can take the wire from a topological into a non-topological phase in certain ranges of parameters. Our results have also direct consequences for a nanowire coupled to an inhomogenous superconductor.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Effects of finite superconducting coherence lengths and of phase gradients in topological SN and SNS junctions and rings

We study the effect of a finite proximity superconducting (SC) coherence length in SN and SNS junctions consisting of a semiconducting topological insulating wire whose ends are connected to either one or two s-wave superconductors. We find that such systems behave exactly as SN and SNS junctions made from a single wire for which some regions are sitting on top of superconductors, the size of the topological SC region being determined by the SC coherence length. We also analyze the effect of a non-perfect transmission at the NS interface on the spatial extension of the Majorana fermions. Moreover, we study the effects of continuous phase gradients in both an open and closed (ring) SNS junction. We find that such phase gradients play an important role in the spatial localization of the Majorana fermions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

CFHTLenS: Higher-order galaxy-mass correlations probed by galaxy-galaxy-galaxy lensing

We present the first direct measurement of the galaxy-matter bispectrum as a function of galaxy luminosity, stellar mass, and SED type. Our analysis uses a galaxy-galaxy-galaxy lensing technique (G3L), on angular scales between 9 arcsec to 50 arcmin, to quantify (i) the excess surface mass density around galaxy pairs (excess mass hereafter) and (ii) the excess shear-shear correlations around single galaxies, both of which yield a measure of two types of galaxy-matter bispectra. We apply our method to the state-of-the-art Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS), spanning 154 square degrees. This survey allows us to detect a significant change of the bispectra with lens properties. Measurements for lens populations with distinct redshift distributions become comparable by a newly devised normalisation technique. That will also aid future comparisons to other surveys or simulations. A significant dependence of the normalised G3L statistics on luminosity within -23<M_r<-18 and stellar mass within 5x10^9 M_sol<M_star<2x10^11 M_sol is found (h=0.73). Both bispectra exhibit a stronger signal for more luminous lenses or those with higher stellar mass (up to a factor 2-3). This is accompanied by a steeper equilateral bispectrum for more luminous or higher stellar mass lenses for the excess mass. Importantly, we find the excess mass to be very sensitive to galaxy type as recently predicted with semi-analytic galaxy models: luminous (M_r<-21) late-type galaxies show no detectable signal, while all excess mass detected for luminous galaxies seems to be associated with early-type galaxies. We also present the first observational constraints on third-order stochastic galaxy biasing parameters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

CFHTLenS: The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey - Imaging Data and Catalogue Products

We present data products from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS). CFHTLenS is based on the Wide component of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS). It encompasses 154 deg^2 of deep, optical, high-quality, sub-arcsecond imaging data in the five optical filters u^*g'r'i'z'. The article presents our data processing of the complete CFHTLenS data set. We were able to obtain a data set with very good image quality and high-quality astrometric and photometric calibration. Our external astrometric accuracy is between 60-70 mas with respect to SDSS data and the internal alignment in all filters is around 30 mas. Our average photometric calibration shows a dispersion on the order of 0.01 to 0.03 mag for g'r'i'z' and about 0.04 mag for u^* with respect to SDSS sources down to i <= 21. In the spirit of the CFHTLS all our data products are released to the astronomical community via the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre. We give a description and how-to manuals of the public products which include image pixel data, source catalogues with photometric redshift estimates and all relevant quantities to perform weak lensing studies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Finite frequency noise in a quantum point contact between helical edge states

We propose and analyze the non-equilibrium finite frequency current-current correlations as a mean to characterize the helical nature of the edge states in a quantum spin hall geometry. We show that the finite frequency noise enables to unambiguously discriminate between the one-particle and the two-particles processes occurring in the helical liquid for both tunneling or weak-backscattering regimes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Conductance-Driven Kondo Effect in a Single Cobalt Atom

A low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope is employed to build a junction comprising a Co atom bridging a copper-coated tip and a Cu(100) surface. An Abrikosov-Suhl-Kondo resonance is evidenced in the differential conductance and its width is shown to vary exponentially with the ballistic conductance regardless of the tip structure. Using a theoretical description based on the Anderson model, we show that the Kondo effect and the conductance are related through the atomic relaxations affecting the environment of the Co atom.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Mutation of Andreev into Majorana bound states in long NS and SNS junctions

We study one-dimensional topological SN and SNS long junctions obtained by placing a topological insulating nanowire in the proximity of either one or two SC finite-size leads. Using the Majorana Polarization order parameter (MP) introduced in Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 096802 (2012)(arxiv:1109.5697) we find that the extended Andreev bound states (ABS) of the normal part of the wire acquire a finite MP: for a finite-size SN junction the ABS spectrum exhibits a zero-energy extended state which carries a full Majorana fermion, while the ABS of long SNS junctions with phase difference $π$ transform into two zero-energy states carrying two Majorana fermions with the same MP. Given their extended character inside the whole normal link, and not only close to an interface, these Majorana-Andreev states can be directly detected in tunneling spectroscopy experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Spatial matter density mapping of the STAGES Abell A901/2 supercluster field with 3D lensing

We present weak lensing data from the HST/STAGES survey to study the three-dimensional spatial distribution of matter and galaxies in the Abell 901/902 supercluster complex. Our method improves over the existing 3D lensing mapping techniques by calibrating and removing redshift bias and accounting for the effects of the radial elongation of 3D structures. We also include the first detailed noise analysis of a 3D lensing map, showing that even with deep HST quality data, only the most massive structures, for example M200>~10^15 Msun/h at z~0.8, can be resolved in 3D with any reasonable redshift accuracy (Δz~0.15). We compare the lensing map to the stellar mass distribution and find luminous counterparts for all mass peaks detected with a peak significance >3σ. We see structures in and behind the z=0.165 foreground supercluster, finding structure directly behind the A901b cluster at z~0.6 and also behind the SW group at z~0.7. This 3D structure viewed in projection has no significant impact on recent mass estimates of A901b or the SW group components SWa and SWb.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Enhanced NMR relaxation of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquids and the magnitude of the carbon hyperfine coupling in single-wall carbon nanotubes

Recent transport measurements [Churchill \textit{et al.} Nat. Phys. \textbf{5}, 321 (2009)] found a surprisingly large, 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than usual $^{13}$C hyperfine coupling (HFC) in $^{13}$C enriched single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). We formulate the theory of the nuclear relaxation time in the framework of the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid theory to enable the determination of the HFC from recent data by Ihara \textit{et al.} [Ihara \textit{et al.} EPL \textbf{90}, 17004 (2010)]. Though we find that $1/T_1$ is orders of magnitude enhanced with respect to a Fermi-liquid behavior, the HFC has its usual, small value. Then, we reexamine the theoretical description used to extract the HFC from transport experiments and show that similar features could be obtained with HFC-independent system parameters.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Non-equilibrium frequency-dependent noise through a quantum dot: A real time functional renormalization group approach

We construct a real time current-conserving functional renormalization group (RG) scheme on the Keldysh contour to study frequency-dependent transport and noise through a quantum dot in the local moment regime. We find that the current vertex develops a non-trivial non-local structure in time, governed by a new set of RG equations. Solving these RG equations, we compute the complete frequency and temperature-dependence of the noise spectrum. For voltages large compared to the Kondo temperature, $eV \gg k_BT_K$, two sharp anti-resonances are found in the noise spectrum at frequencies $\hbar ω= \pm e V$, and correspondingly, two peaks in the ac conductance through the dot.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗