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W. Belzig

Publications and source records attributed to W. Belzig.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Josephson effect in S$_{\rm F}$XS$_{\rm F}$ junctions

We investigate the Josephson effect in S$_{\rm F}$XS$_{\rm F}$ junctions, where S$_{\rm F}$ is a superconducting material with a ferromagnetic exchange field, and X a weak link. The critical current $I_c$ increases with the (antiparallel) exchange fields if the distribution of transmission eigenvalues of the X-layer has its maximum weight at small values. This exchange field enhancement of the supercurrent does not exist if X is a diffusive normal metal. At low temperatures, there is a correspondence between the critical current in an S$_{\rm F}$IS$_{\rm F}$ junction with collinear orientations of the two exchange fields, and the AC supercurrent amplitude in an SIS tunnel junction. The difference of the exchange fields $h_1-h_2$ in an S$_{\rm F}$IS$_{\rm F}$ junction corresponds to the potential difference $V_1-V_2$ in an SIS junction; i.e., the singularity in $I_c$ [in an S$_{\rm F}$IS$_{\rm F}$ junction] at $|h_1-h_2|=Δ_1+Δ_2$ is the analogue of the Riedel peak. We also discuss the AC Josephson effect in S$_{\rm F}$IS$_{\rm F}$ junctions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Full Counting Statistics of a Superconducting Beam Splitter

We study the statistics of charge transport in a mesoscopic three-terminal device with one superconducting terminal and two normal-metal terminals. We calculate the full distribution of transmitted charges into the two symmetrically biased normal terminals. In a wide parameter range, we find large positive crosscorrelations between the currents in the two normal arms. We also determine the third cumulant that provides additional information on the statistics not contained in the current noise.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Generalized boundary conditions for the circuit theory of mesoscopic transport

The circuit theory of mesoscopic transport provides a unified framework to describe spin-dependent or superconductivity-related phenomena. We extend this theory to hybrid systems of normal metals, ferromagnets and superconductors. Our main result is an expression for the current through an arbitrary contact between two general isotropic "nodes", which is suitable to describe the presence of superconducting and ferromagnetic elements in the system, as well as magnetically active interfaces/contacts. In certain cases (weak ferromagnet and magnetic tunnel junction) we derive transparent and simple results for the matrix current.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Negative Magnetoresistance in Andreev Interferometers

We consider transport in a diffusive cross-shaped Andreev interferometer geometry, both theoretically and experimentally. A strong and unexpected modulation of the conductance with the superconducting phase is found. In particular, a reversed resistance vs. phase difference is predicted, where the resistance is decreased by a phase gradient. A comparison of our quasiclassical calculation with experimental data shows quantitative agreement if we account for diamagnetic screening.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

$π-0$ Transition in Superconductor-Ferromagnetic-Superconductor Junctions

Superconductor-Ferromagnetic-Superconductor (SFS) Josephson junctions are known to exhibit a transition between $π$ and 0 states. In this note we find the $π-0$ phase diagram of an SFS junction depending on the transparency of an intermediate insulating layer (I). We show that in general, the Josephson critical current is nonzero at the $π-0$ transition temperature. Contributions to the current from the two spin channels nearly compensate each other and the first harmonic of the Josephson current as a function of phase difference is suppressed. However, higher harmonics give a nonzero contribution to the supercurrent.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Absolute spin-valve effect with superconducting proximity structures

We investigate spin dependent transport in hybrid superconductor(S)--normal-metal(N)--ferromagnet(F) structures under conditions of proximity effect. We demonstrate the feasibility of the absolute spin-valve effect for a certain interval of voltages in a system consisting of two coupled tri-layer structures. Our results are also valid for non-collinear magnetic configurations of the ferromagnets.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Full counting statistics of electron transfer between superconductors

We present an extension of the Keldysh-Green's function method, which allows to calculate the full distribution of transmitted particles through a mesoscopic superconductor. The method is applied to the statistics of supercurrent in short contacts. If the current is carried by Andreev bound states the distribution corresponds to switching between long trains of electrons going in opposite directions. For weak (gapless) superconductors or tunnel junctions we find that at low temperatures the distribution has negative `probabilities'. Accounting for the quantum mechanical nature of the measuring device shows that these negative values can indeed be measured.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Full Current Statistics in Diffusive Normal-Superconductor Structures

We study the current statistics in normal diffusive conductors in contact with a superconductor. Using an extension of the Keldysh Green's function method we are able to find the full distribution of charge transfers for all temperatures and voltages. For the non-Gaussian regime, we show that the equilibrium current fluctuations are enhanced by the presence of the superconductor. We predict an enhancement of the nonequilibrium current noise for temperatures below and voltages of the order of the Thouless energy E_Th=D/L^2. Our calculation fully accounts for the proximity effect in the normal metal and agrees with experimental data. We demonstrate that the calculation of the full current statistics is in fact simpler than a concrete calculation of the noise.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Superconducting proximity effect in clean ferromagnetic layers

We investigate superconducting proximity effect in clean ferromagnetic layers with rough boundaries. The subgap density of states is formed by Andreev bound states at energies which depend on trajectory length and the ferromagnetic exchange field. At energies above the gap, the spectrum is governed by resonant scattering states. The resulting density of states, measurable by tunneling spectroscopy, exhibits a rich structure, which allows to connect the theoretical parameters from experiments.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Oscillations of Andreev states in clean ferromagnetic films

We investigate the influence of the exchange field on the Andreev bound states in a ferromagnetic (F) film backed on one side by a superconductor (S). Our model accounts for diffusive reflection at the outer surface and possible backscattering at the FS-interface. Phase shifting of the Andreev level by the exchange field results in an oscillatory behaviour of the density of states of F as a function of the layer thickness. We show that our results agree quantitatively with recent experiments.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

The excitation spectrum of mesoscopic proximity structures

We investigate one aspect of the proximity effect, viz., the local density of states of a superconductor-normal metal sandwich. In contrast to earlier work, we allow for the presence of an arbitrary concentration of impurities in the structure. The superconductor induces a gap in the normal metal spectrum that is proportional to the inverse of the elastic mean free path l_N for rather clean systems. For a mean free path much shorter than the thickness of the normal metal, we find a gap size proportional to l_N that approaches the behavior predicted by the Usadel equation (diffusive limit). We also discuss the influence of interface and surface roughness, the consequences of a non-ideal transmittivity of the interface, and the dependence of our results on the choice of the model of impurity scattering.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Spin-accumulation and Andreev-reflection in a mesoscopic ferromagnetic wire

The electron transport though ferromagnetic metal-superconducting hybrid devices is considered in the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism in the quasiclassical approximation. Attention if focused on the limit in which the exchange splitting in the ferromagnet is much larger than the superconducting energy gap. Transport properties are then governed by an interplay between spin-accumulation close to the interface and Andreev reflection at the interface. We find that the resistance can either be enhanced or lowered in comparison to the normal case and can have a non-monotonic temperature and voltage dependence. In the non-linear voltage regime electron heating effects may govern the transport properties, leading to qualitative different behaviour than in the absence of heating effects. Recent experimental results on the effect of the superconductor on the conductance of the ferromagnet can be understood by our results for the energy-dependent interface resistance together with effects of spin- accumulation without invoking long range pairing correlations in the ferromagnet.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Spectral Features of the Proximity Effect

We calculate the local density of states (LDOS) of a superconductor-normal metal sandwich at arbitrary impurity concentration. The presence of the superconductor induces a gap in the normal metal spectrum that is proportional to the inverse of the elastic mean free path $l$ for rather clean systems. For a mean free path much shorter than the thickness of the normal metal, we find a gap size proportional to $l$ that approaches the behavior predicted by the Usadel equation (diffusive limit).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Andreev scattering in nanoscopic junctions at high magnetic fields

We report on the measurement of multiple Andreev resonances at atomic size point contacts between two superconducting nanostructures of Pb under magnetic fields higher than the bulk critical field, where superconductivity is restricted to a mesoscopic region near the contact. The small number of conduction channels in this type of contacts permits a quantitative comparison with theory through the whole field range. We discuss in detail the physical properties of our structure, in which the normal bulk electrodes induce a proximity effect into the mesoscopic superconducting part.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Paramagnetic instability at normal-metal - superconductor interfaces

We study the proximity coherence in a mesoscopic normal-metal film (N) in contact with a superconductor (S). Accounting for a repulsive interaction between the electrons in the normal metal, we find an enhanced local density of states close to the NS interface. The sharp peak in the density is pinned to the Fermi energy and leads to spontaneous paramagnetic interface currents. The induced orbital magnetic moments exhibit the characteristic features of paramagnetic reentrance observed in normal-metal coated superconducting cylinders [Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 1514 (1990)].

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Diamagnetic Response of an N-S-Proximity System at Arbitrary Impurity Concentration

We investigate the magnetic response of normal-metal--superconductor proximity systems for arbitrary concentrations of impurities and at arbitrary temperatures. Using the quasiclassical theory a general linear-response formula is derived which yields a non-local current-field relation in terms of the zero-field Green's functions. Various regimes between clean-limit and (local) dirty-limit response are investigated by analytical methods and by solving the general formula numerically. In the ballistic regime we find that a finite mean free path reduces the non-locality and leads to a stronger screening than in the clean limit even for a mean free path much larger than the system size. Additionally, the range of the kernel describing the non-locality is strongly temperature-dependent in this case. In the diffusive limit we find a cross-over from local to non-local screening, which restricts the applicability of the dirty-limit theory.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Quasiclassical theory of twin boundaries in High-T_c superconductors

We investigate the electronic structure of twin boundaries in orthorhombically distorted high-T$_c$ materials using the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity. At low temperatures we find a local instability to a time-reversal symmetry breaking state at the twin boundary. This state yields spontaneous currents along the twin boundary that are microscopically explained by the structure of the quasiparticle bound states. We calculate the local density of states and find a splitting in the zero-bias peak once the spontaneous currents set in. This splitting is measurable by STM techniques and is a unique signature of time-reversal breaking states at a twin boundary.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Local Density of States in a Dirty Normal Metal connected to a Superconductor

A superconductor in contact with a normal metal not only induces superconducting correlations, known as proximity effect, but also modifies the density of states at some distance from the interface. These modifications can be resolved experimentally in microstructured systems. We, therefore, study the local density of states $N(E,x)$ of a superconductor - normal metal heterostructure. We find a suppression of $N(E,x)$ at small energies, which persists to large distances. If the normal metal forms a thin layer of thickness $L_n$, a minigap in the density of states appears which is of the order of the Thouless energy $\sim \hbar D/L_n^2$. A magnetic field suppresses the features. We find good agreement with recent experiments of Guéron {\it et al.}

cond-mat↗