arXiv subjects

R. Egger

Publications and source records attributed to R. Egger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Magnetic Bloch bands and Weiss oscillations in Dirac mass superlattices

We study two-dimensional Dirac fermions in a one-dimensional mass superlattice under a perpendicular magnetic field. Using exact solutions for isolated and finite arrays of domain walls, we demonstrate the persistence of Jackiw-Rebbi modes with a field-dependent renormalized velocity. For the periodic case, we adopt a gauge-invariant projection method onto magnetic Bloch states, valid for arbitrary fields and mass profiles, which yields dispersive Landau levels, and confirm its accuracy by comparison with finite arrays spectra. From the miniband spectra we predict modified quantum Hall plateaus and Weiss-like magnetoconductivity oscillations, characterized by a strongly reduced amplitude and a $\pi/2$ phase shift compared to electrostatic superlattices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Nonreciprocal charge transport and subharmonic structure in voltage-biased Josephson diodes

We study charge transport in voltage-biased single-channel junctions involving helical superconductors with finite Cooper pair momentum. For a Josephson junction, the equilibrium current-phase relation shows a superconducting diode effect: the critical current depends on the propagation direction. We formulate a scattering theory for voltage-biased Josephson diodes and show that multiple Andreev reflection processes cause a rich subharmonic structure in the DC current-voltage curve at low temperatures and small voltages due to Doppler shifts of the spectral gap. In the current-biased case, the diode efficiency has maximal rectification efficiency $\eta_0\approx 0.4$ for this model. In the voltage-biased case, however, the rectification efficiency can reach the ideal value $\eta=1$. We also discuss charge transport for NS junctions between a normal metal and a helical superconductor and comment on related models with spin-orbit interactions and magnetic Zeeman fields.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Approaching ideal rectification in superconducting diodes through multiple Andreev reflections

We analyze the rectification properties of voltage-biased Josephson junctions exhibiting the superconducting diode effect. Taking into account multiple Andreev reflection (MAR) processes in our scattering theory, we consider a short weak link of arbitrary transparency between two superconductors with finite Cooper pair momentum $2q$. In equilibrium, the diode efficiency is bounded from above in this model, with maximal efficiency $\eta_0\approx 0.4$. Out of equilibrium, we find a rich subharmonic structure in the current-voltage curve. For high transparency and low bias voltage $V$, the rectification efficiency $\eta(V)$ approaches the ideal value $\eta=1$ for $q\xi\to 1$ (with coherence length $\xi$).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Two-dimensional Dirac fermions in a mass superlattice

We study two-dimensional (2D) Dirac fermions in the presence of a periodic mass term alternating between positive and negative values along one direction. This scenario could be realized for a graphene monolayer or for the surface states of topological insulators. The low-energy physics is governed by chiral Jackiw-Rebbi modes propagating along zero-mass lines, with the energy dispersion of the Bloch states given by an anisotropic Dirac cone. By means of the transfer matrix approach, we obtain exact results for a piece-wise constant mass superlattice. On top of Bloch states, two different classes of boundary and/or interface modes can exist in a finite-size geometry or in a nonuniform electrostatic potential, respectively. We compute the dispersion relation for both types of boundary and interface modes, which originate either from states close to the superlattice Brillouin zone (BZ) center or, via a Lifshitz transition, from states near the BZ boundary. In the presence of a potential step, we predict that the interface modes, the Bloch wave functions, and the electrical conductance will sensitively depend on the step position relative to the mass superlattice.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Multi-particle scattering and breakdown of the Wiedemann-Franz law at a junction of N interacting quantum wires

We analyze the charge and thermal transport at a junction of interacting quantum wires close to equilibrium. Within the framework of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquids, we compute the thermal conductance for a wide class of boundary conditions and detail the physical processes leading to the breakdown of the Wiedemann-Franz law at the junction. We show how connecting external reservoirs to the quantum wires affects the conductance tensors close to the various fixed points of the phase diagram of the junction. We therefore distinguish two types of violation of the Wiedemann-Franz law: a "trivial" one, independent of the junction dynamics and arising from the breakdown of the Fermi-liquid picture in the wire, and a junction-related counterpart, arising from multi-particle scattering processes at the junction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Towards dark space stabilization and manipulation in driven dissipative Majorana platforms

We propose driven dissipative Majorana platforms for the stabilization and manipulation of robust quantum states. For Majorana box setups, in the presence of environmental electromagnetic noise and with tunnel couplings to quantum dots, we show that the time evolution of the Majorana sector is governed by a Lindblad master equation over a wide parameter regime. For the single-box case, arbitrary pure states (`dark states') can be stabilized by adjusting suitable gate voltages. For devices with two tunnel-coupled boxes, we outline how to engineer dark spaces, i.e., manifolds of degenerate dark states, and how to stabilize fault-tolerant Bell states. The proposed Majorana-based dark space platforms rely on the constructive interplay of topological protection mechanisms and the autonomous quantum error correction capabilities of engineered driven dissipative systems. Once a working Majorana platform becomes available, only standard hardware requirements are needed to implement our ideas.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Driven Dissipative Majorana Dark Spaces

Pure quantum states can be stabilized in open quantum systems subject to external driving forces and dissipation by environmental modes. We show that driven dissipative (DD) Majorana devices offer key advantages for stabilizing degenerate state manifolds (`dark spaces') and for manipulating states in dark spaces, both with respect to native (non-DD) Majorana devices and to DD platforms with topologically trivial building blocks. For two tunnel-coupled Majorana boxes, using otherwise only standard hardware elements (e.g., a noisy electromagnetic environment and quantum dots with driven tunnel links), we propose a dark qubit encoding. We anticipate exceptionally high fault tolerance levels due to a conspiracy of DD-based autonomous error correction and topology.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Dimensionality-driven photoproduction of massive Dirac pairs near threshold in gapped graphene monolayers

Generation of quasi-particle--hole pairs in gapped graphene monolayers in the combined field of two counterpropagating light waves is studied. The process represents an analogue of electron-positron pair production from the QED vacuum by the Breit-Wheeler effect. We show, however, that the two-dimensional structure of graphene causes some striking differences between both scenarios. In particular, contrary to the QED case, it allows for non-zero pair production rates at the energy threshold when the Breit-Wheeler reaction proceeds nonlinearly with absorption of three photons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Boundary Green's function approach for spinful single-channel and multichannel Majorana nanowires

The boundary Green's function (bGF) approach has been established as a powerful theoretical technique for computing the transport properties of tunnel-coupled hybrid nanowire devices. Such nanowires may exhibit topologically nontrivial superconducting phases with Majorana bound states at their boundaries. We introduce a general method for computing the bGF of spinful multi-channel lattice models for such Majorana nanowires, where the bGF is expressed in terms of the roots of a secular polynomial evaluated in complex momentum space. In many cases, those roots, and thus the bGF, can be accurately described by simple analytical expressions, while otherwise our approach allows for the numerically efficient evaluation of bGFs. We show that from the behavior of the roots, many physical quantities of key interest can be inferred, e.g., the value of bulk topological invariants, the energy dependence of the local density of states, or the spatial decay of subgap excitations. We apply the method to single- and two-channel nanowires of symmetry class D or DIII. In addition, we study the spectral properties of multi-terminal Josephson junctions made out of such Majorana nanowires.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Multi-particle interferometry in the time-energy domain with localized topological quasiparticles

We propose multi-particle interference protocols in the time-energy domain which are able to probe localized topological quasiparticles. Using a set of quantum dots tunnel-coupled to a topologically nontrivial system, the time dependence of the dot level energies defines a many-body interferometry platform which (to some extent) is similar to the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interferometer. We demonstrate that for a superconducting island harboring at least four Majorana bound states, the probability distribution of the final dot occupation numbers will exhibit a characteristic interferometric pattern with robust and quantized $\pi$ phase shifts. This pattern is shown to be qualitatively different for topologically trivial variants of our setup. Apart from identifying the presence of topological quasiparticles, the interferometer can be used to manipulate the quantum state in the topologically nontrivial sector by means of post-selection.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Chiral Y junction of quantum spin chains

We study a Y junction of spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains with an interaction that breaks both time-reversal and chain exchange symmetries, but not their product nor SU(2) symmetry. The boundary phase diagram features a stable disconnected fixed point at weak coupling and a stable three-channel Kondo fixed point at strong coupling, separated by an unstable chiral fixed point at intermediate coupling. Using non-abelian bosonization and boundary conformal field theory, together with density matrix renormalization group and quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we characterize the signatures of these low-energy fixed points. In particular, we address the boundary entropy, the spin conductance and the temperature dependence of the scalar spin chirality and the magnetic susceptibility at the boundary.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Giant shot noise from Majorana zero modes in topological trijunctions

The clear-cut experimental identification of Majorana bound states in transport measurements still poses experimental challenges. We here show that the zero-energy Majorana state formed at a junction of three topological superconductor wires is directly responsible for giant shot noise amplitudes, in particular at low voltages and for small contact transparency. The only intrinsic noise limitation comes from the current-induced dephasing rate due to multiple Andreev reflection processes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Fermi liquid approach for superconducting Kondo problems

We present a Fermi liquid approach to superconducting Kondo problems applicable when the Kondo temperature is large compared to the superconducting gap. To illustrate the theory, we study the current-phase relation and the Andreev level spectrum for an Anderson impurity between two $s$-wave superconductors. In the particle-hole symmetric Kondo limit, we find a $4\pi$ periodic Andreev spectrum. The $4\pi$ periodicity persists under a small voltage bias which however causes an asymmetric distortion of Andreev levels. The latter distinguishes the present $4\pi$ effect from the one in topological Majorana junctions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Simulating topological tensor networks with Majorana qubits

The realization of topological quantum phases of matter remains a key challenge to condensed matter physics and quantum information science. In this work, we demonstrate that progress in this direction can be made by combining concepts of tensor network theory with Majorana device technology. Considering the topological double semion string-net phase as an example, we exploit the fact that the representation of topological phases by tensor networks can be significantly simpler than their description by lattice Hamiltonians. The building blocks defining the tensor network are tailored to realization via simple units of capacitively coupled Majorana bound states. In the case under consideration, this yields a remarkably simple blueprint of a synthetic double semion string-net, and one may be optimistic that the required device technology will be available soon. Our results indicate that the implementation of tensor network structures via mesoscopic quantum devices opens up a powerful novel avenue toward the realization and quantum simulation of synthetic topological quantum matter.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Josephson effect in junctions of conventional and topological superconductors

We present a theoretical analysis of the equilibrium Josephson current-phase relation in hybrid devices made of conventional s-wave spin-singlet superconductors (S) and topological superconductor (TS) wires featuring Majorana end states. Using Green's function techniques, the topological superconductor is alternatively described by the low-energy continuum limit of a Kitaev chain or by a more microscopic spinful nanowire model. We show that for the simplest S-TS tunnel junction, only the s-wave pairing correlations in a spinful TS nanowire model can generate a Josephson effect. The critical current is much smaller in the topological regime and exhibits a kink-like dependence on the Zeeman field along the wire. When a correlated quantum dot (QD) in the magnetic regime is present in the junction region, however, the Josephson current becomes finite also in the deep topological phase as shown for the cotunneling regime and by a mean-field analysis. Remarkably, we find that the S-QD-TS setup can support $\varphi_0$-junction behavior, where a finite supercurrent flows at vanishing phase difference. Finally, we also address a multi-terminal S-TS-S geometry, where the TS wire acts as tunable parity switch on the Andreev bound states in a superconducting atomic contact.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Quantum spin circulator in Y junctions of Heisenberg chains

We show that a quantum spin circulator, a nonreciprocal device that routes spin currents without any charge transport, can be achieved in Y junctions of identical spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg chains coupled by a chiral three-spin interaction. Using bosonization, boundary conformal field theory, and density-matrix renormalization group simulations, we find that a chiral fixed point with maximally asymmetric spin conductance arises at a critical point separating a regime of disconnected chains from a spin-only version of the three-channel Kondo effect. We argue that networks of spin-chain Y junctions provide a controllable approach to construct long-sought chiral spin liquid phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Proximity-induced superconductivity in Landau-quantized graphene monolayers

We consider massless Dirac fermions in a graphene monolayer subject to both a perpendicular magnetic field $B$ and a proximity-induced pairing gap $\Delta$. When the chemical potential is at the Dirac point, our exact solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation yields $\Delta$-independent relativistic Landau levels. Since eigenstates depend on $\Delta$, many observables nevertheless are sensitive to pairing, e.g., the local density of states or the edge state spectrum. By solving the problem with an additional in-plane electric field, we also discuss how snake states are influenced by a pairing gap.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Josephson effect in multiterminal topological junctions

We study the Josephson effect in a trijunction formed by two topological superconductor (TS) wires and a conventional $s$-wave superconductor. Using a boundary Green's function formalism, analytical results for the current-phase relation are obtained in various limiting cases by modeling the TS wires via the low-energy limit of a Kitaev chain. We show that Josephson transport critically depends on the spin canting angle $\theta$ between the boundary spin polarizations of the TS wires, which in turn suggests that the spin structure of Majorana states can be accessed through supercurrent measurements. We also extend the boundary Green's function approach to a more microscopic spinful wire model and thereby compute the dependence of $\theta$ on experimentally accessible parameters such as the Zeeman field and/or the chemical potential. Furthermore, we show that the equilibrium current-phase relation between both TS wires exhibits a robust $4\pi$-periodicity since the conventional superconducting lead effectively locks the fermion parity of the trijunction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗