128 research outputs found
Nonlinear magnetic field dependence of the conductance in d-wave NIS tunnel junctions
The ab-plane NIS-tunnelling conductance in d-wave superconductors shows a
zero-bias conductance peak which is predicted to split in a magnetic field. In
a pure d-wave superconductor the splitting is linear for fields small on the
scale of the thermodynamic critical field. The field dependence is shown to be
nonlinear, even at low fields, in the vicinity of a surface phase transition
into a local time-reversal symmetry breaking state. The field evolution of the
conductance is sensitive to temperature, doping, and the symmetry of the
sub-dominant pairing channel.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Point-contact spectroscopy in heavy-fermion superconductors
We develop a minimal model to calculate point-contact spectra between a
metallic tip and a superconducting heavy-fermion system. We apply our tunneling
model to the heavy fermion CeCoIn5, both in the normal and superconducting
state. In point-contact and scanning tunneling spectroscopy many heavy-fermion
materials, like CeCoIn5, exhibit an asymmetric differential conductance, dI/dV,
combined with a strongly suppressed Andreev reflection signal in the
superconducting state. We argue that both features may be explained in terms of
a multichannel tunneling model in the presence of localized states near the
interface. We find that it is not sufficient to tunnel into two itinerant bands
of light and heavy electrons to explain the Fano line shape of the differential
conductance. Localized states in the bulk or near the interface are an
essential component for quantum interference to occur when an electron tunnels
from the metallic tip of the point contact into the heavy-fermion system.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review
Landau Ginzburg theory of the d-wave Josephson junction
This letter discusses the Landau Ginzburg theory of a Josephson junction
composed of on one side a pure d-wave superconductor oriented with the
axis normal to the junction and on the other side either s-wave or d-wave
oriented with normal to the junction. We use simple symmetry arguments
to show that the Josephson current as a function of the phase must have the
form . In principle vanishes
for a perfect junction of this type, but anisotropy effects, either due to a-b
axis asymmetry or junction imperfections can easily cause to be
quite large even in a high quality junction. If is sufficiently
small and is negative local time reversal symmetry breaking will appear.
Arbitrary values of the flux would then be pinned to corners between such
junctions and occasionally on junction faces, which is consistent with
experiments by Kirtley et al
Tunneling limit of heavy-fermion point contacts
We present results for a multichannel tunneling model that describes
point-contact spectra between a metallic tip and a superconducting
heavy-fermion system. We calculate tunneling spectra both in the normal and
superconducting state. In point-contact and scanning tunneling spectroscopy
many heavy-fermion materials, like CeCoIn5, exhibit an asymmetric differential
conductance, dI/dV, combined with a strongly suppressed Andreev reflection
signal in the superconducting state. For Andreev reflection to occur a junction
has to be in the highly transparent limit. Here we focus on the opposite limit,
namely that of low transparency leading to BCS-like dI/dV curves. We discuss
the consequences of a multichannel tunneling model for CeCoIn5 assuming
itinerant electron bands and localized f electrons.Comment: Contribution at SCES-201
Effects of quasiparticle tunneling in a circuit-QED realization of a strongly driven two-level system
We experimentally and theoretically study the frequency shift of a driven
cavity coupled to a superconducting charge qubit. In addition to previous
studies, we here also consider drive strengths large enough to energetically
allow for quasiparticle creation. Quasiparticle tunneling leads to the
inclusion of more than two charge states in the dynamics. To explain the
observed effects, we develop a master equation for the microwave dressed charge
states, including quasiparticle tunneling. A bimodal behavior of the frequency
shift as a function of gate voltage can be used for sensitive charge detection.
However, at weak drives the charge sensitivity is significantly reduced by
non-equilibrium quasiparticles, which induce transitions to a non-sensitive
state. Unexpectedly, at high enough drives, quasiparticle tunneling enables a
very fast relaxation channel to the sensitive state. In this regime, the charge
sensitivity is thus robust against externally injected quasiparticles and the
desired dynamics prevail over a broad range of temperatures. We find very good
agreement between theory and experiment over a wide range of drive strengths
and temperatures.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figure
Dynamic parity recovery in a strongly driven Cooper-pair box
We study a superconducting charge qubit coupled to an intensive
electromagnetic field and probe changes in the resonance frequency of the
formed dressed states. At large driving strengths, exceeding the qubit
energy-level splitting, this reveals the well known Landau-Zener-Stuckelberg
(LZS) interference structure of a longitudinally driven two-level system. For
even stronger drives we observe a significant change in the LZS pattern and
contrast. We attribute this to photon-assisted quasiparticle tunneling in the
qubit. This results in the recovery of the qubit parity, eliminating effects of
quasiparticle poisoning and leads to an enhanced interferometric response. The
interference pattern becomes robust to quasiparticle poisoning and has a good
potential for accurate charge sensing.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Spectrum of Andreev Bound States in a Molecule Embedded Inside a Microwave-Excited Superconducting Junction
Non-dissipative Josephson current through nanoscale superconducting
constrictions is carried by spectroscopically sharp energy states, so-called
Andreev bound states. Although theoretically predicted almost 40 years ago, no
direct spectroscopic evidence of these Andreev bound states exists to date. We
propose a novel type of spectroscopy based on embedding a superconducting
constriction, formed by a single-level molecule junction, in a microwave QED
cavity environment. In the electron-dressed cavity spectrum we find a polariton
excitation at twice the Andreev bound state energy, and a superconducting-phase
dependent ac Stark shift of the cavity frequency. Dispersive measurement of
this frequency shift can be used for Andreev bound state spectroscopy.Comment: Published version; 4+ pages, 3 figure
Spontaneous flux in a d-wave superconductor with time-reversal-symmetry-broken pairing state at {110} boundaries
The induction of an s-wave component in a d-wave superconductor is
considered. Near the {110}-oriented edges of such a sample, the induced s-wave
order parameter together with d-wave component forms a complex combination
d+e^{i\phi} s, which breaks the time reversal symmetry (BTRS) of the pairing
state. As a result, the spontaneous current is created. We numerically study
the current distribution and the formation of the spontaneous flux induced by
the current. We show that the spontaneous flux formed from a number of defect
lines with {110} orientation has a measurable strength. This result may provide
a unambiguous way to check the existence of BTRS pairing state at
{110}-oriented boundaries.Comment: 4 pages, 2 ps-figures, content changed, references adde
Andreev Bound States at the Interface of Antiferromagnets and d-wave Superconductors
We set up a simple transfer matrix formalism to study the existence of bound
states at interfaces and in junctions between antiferromagnets and d-wave
superconductors. The well-studied zero energy mode at the {110} interface
between an insulator and a d-wave superconductor is spin split when the
insulator is an antiferromagnet. This has as a consequence that any competing
interface induced superconducting order parameter that breaks the time reversal
symmetry needs to exceed a critical value before a charge current is induced
along the interface.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Quasiparticle Interface States in Junctions Involving d-Wave Superconductors
Influence of surface pair breaking, barrier transmission and phase difference
on quasiparticle bound states in junctions with d-wave superconductors is
examined. Based on the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity, an approach
is developed to handle interface bound states. It is shown in SIS' junctions
that low energy bound states get their energies reduced by surface pair
breaking, which can be taken into account by introducing an effective order
parameter for each superconductor at the junction barrier. More interestingly,
for the interface bound states near the continuous spectrum the effect of
surface pair breaking may result in a splitting of the bound states. In the
tunneling limit this can lead to a square root dependence of a nonequilibrium
Josephson current on the barrier transmision, which means an enhancement as
compared to the conventional critical current linear in the transmission.
Reduced broadening of bound states in NIS junctions due to surface pair
breaking is found.Comment: 27 pages, Latex fil
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