Spontaneous symmetry breaking induced thermospin effect in superconducting tunnel junctions

We discuss the charge and the spin tunneling currents between two Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superconductors, where one density of states is spin-split by the proximity of a ferromagnetic insulator. In the presence of a large temperature bias across the junction, we predict the generation of a spin-polarized thermoelectric current. This thermospin effect is the result of a spontaneous particle-hole symmetry breaking in the absence of any polarizing tunnel barrier. The two spin components, which move in opposite directions, generate a spin current larger than the purely polarized case when the thermoactive component dominates over the dissipative one

Fully superconducting josephson bolometers for gigahertz astronomy

The origin and the evolution of the universe are concealed in the evanescent diffuse extragalactic background radiation (DEBRA). To reveal these signals, the development of innovative ultra-sensitive bolometers operating in the gigahertz band is required. Here, we review the design and experimental realization of two bias-current-tunable sensors based on one dimensional fully superconducting Josephson junctions: the nanoscale transition edge sensor (nano-TES) and the Josephson escape sensor (JES). In particular, we cover the theoretical basis of the sensors operation, the device fabrication, their experimental electronic and thermal characterization and the deduced detection performance. Indeed, the nano-TES promises a state-of-the-art noise equivalent power (NEP) of about 5 × 10−20 W/√Hz, while the JES active region is expected to show an unprecedented NEP of the order of 10−25 W/√Hz. Therefore, the nano-TES and JES are strong candidates to push radio astronomy to the next level

Semeoticons -Reading the face code of cardio-metabolic risk

What if you could discover your health status by looking at yourself in the mirror? Since November 2013, the EU FP7 Project SEMEOTICONS is working to make this possible. The Project is building a multi-sensory device, having the form of a conventional mirror, able to read the semeiotic code of the face and detect possible evidence of the onset of cardio-metabolic diseases. The device, called Wize Mirror, integrates unobtrusive imaging sensors used to capture videos, images and 3D scans of the face. These are processed to assess the risk of a cardio-metabolic disease and thereby suggest possible strategies to prevent its onset