Spin-polarized multiple Andreev reflections in spin-split superconductors

Bo Lu*, Pablo Burset, Yukio Tanaka

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
234 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We study the transport properties of a voltage-biased contact between two spin-split superconductors separated by an insulating barrier of arbitrary transparency. At low transparency, the contribution of multiple Andreev reflections leads to a subharmonic gap structure that crucially depends on the amplitude and relative angle of the spin-splitting fields of each superconductor. For noncollinear fields, we find an interesting even-odd effect on the bound states within the gap, where the odd order multiple Andreev reflections split, but the even order ones remain at their expected positions. By computing the current-voltage characteristics, we determine the transparency required for the emergence of a subharmonic gap structure and show that the splitting of the odd bound states is associated with different threshold energies of spin-polarized Andreev processes. Our findings provide a tool to experimentally determine the amplitude and alignment of Zeeman fields in spin-split superconductors.

Original languageEnglish
Article number020502
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume101
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Jan 2020
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • ENERGY-GAP STRUCTURE
  • MAGNETIC-FIELD

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