Nazarov Group

theoretical physics group at TU Delft

Hristo Barakov, Yuli V. Nazarov

Link to arxiv.org

ABSTRACT: Inspired by recent experimental findings that will be presented elsewhere, we formulate and investigate a model of a superconducting junction that combines the electron propagation in a quantum channel with an arbitrary transmission, and that through a localized state. Interesting situation occurs if the energy of the localized state is close to Fermi level, that is, the state is in resonant tunnelling regime. Since this energy is affected by the gate voltage, we expect a drastic modification of transport properties of the junction in a narrow interval of the gate voltages where the energy distance to Fermi level is of the order of Γ,Δ, Γ being the energy broadening of the localized state, Δ being the superconducting energy gap.
We consider the model neglecting the interaction in the localized state, as well as accounting for the interaction in a simplistic mean-field approach where it manifests itself as a spin-splitting. This spin splitting is also contributed by external magnetic field. We also take into account the spin-orbit interaction that can be significant in realistic experimental circumstances.
In normal state, we find that the model may describe both peak and dip in the transmission at resonant gate voltage. Spin splitting splits the positions of these peculiarities. Fano interference of the transmission amplitudes results in an asymmetric shape of the peaks/dips. In superconducting state, the spin splitting results in a complex dependence of the superconducting current on the superconducting phase. In several cases, this is manifested as a pair of 0−π transitions in the narrow interval of gate voltages.
The article in the present form is not intended for a journal submission.

Hristo Barakov, Yuli V. Nazarov

Link to arxiv.org

ABSTRACT: We show that the quasi-continuous gapless spectrum of Andreev bound states in multi-terminal semi-classical superconducting nanostructures exhibits a big number of topological singularities. We concentrate on Weyl points in a 4-terminal nanostructure, compute their density and correlations in 3D parameter space for a universal RMT model as well as for the concrete nanostructures described by the quantum circuit theory. We mention the opportunities for experimental observation of the effect in a quasi-continuous spectrum.

E. V. Repin, Y. V. Nazarov

Link to arxiv.org

ABSTRACT: In this Article we address the definition and values of topological numbers of the manifolds of wavefunctions – bands obtained by quantum superposition of the wavefunctions that belong to topologically distinct manifolds. The problem, although simple in essence, can be formulated as a paradox: it may seem that quantum superposition implies non-integer topological numbers.
We show that the results are different for superpositions that are created dynamically and for those obtained by stationary mixing of the manifolds. For dynamical superpositions we have found that the observable related to the topological number is non-integer indeed. For static superpositions the resulting bands bear integer topological numbers. We illustrate how the number quantization is restored upon avoided crossing of topologically distinct subbands. The crossings lead to the exchange of topological numbers between the bands. We consider complicated phase diagrams arising from this and show the absence of triple critical points and abundance of quadruple critical points that are rare in thermodynamic phase diagrams. We illustrate these features considering the bilayer Haldane model.

Albert Franquet, Yuli V. Nazarov, Hongduo Wei

Link to arxiv:

Abstract: In this paper, we establish a general theoretical framework for the description of continuous quantum measurements and the statistics of the results of such measurements. The framework concerns the measurement of an arbitrary quantum system with arbitrary number of detectors under realistic assumption of instant detector reactions and white noise sources. We attend various approaches to the problem showing their equivalence. The approaches include the full counting statistics (FCS) evolution equation a for pseudo-density matrix, the drift-diffusion equation for a density matrix in the space of integrated outputs, and discrete stochastic updates. We provide the derivation of the underlying equations from a microscopic approach based on full counting statistics method, a phenomenological approach based on Lindblad construction, and interaction with auxiliary quantum systems representing the detectors. We establish the necessary conditions on the phenomenological susceptibilities and noises that guarantee the unambiguous interpretation of the measurement results and the positivity of the density matrix. Our results can be easily extended to describe various quantum feedback schemes where the manipulation decision is based on the values of detector outputs.