Work

Multiple scattering theory for superconducting heterostructures

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: We generalize the screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method for solving the corresponding Kohn-Sham-Bogoliubov--de Gennes equations for surfaces and interfaces. As an application of the theory, we study the quasiparticle spectrum of Au overlayers on a Nb(100) host. We find that within the superconducting gap region, the quasiparticle spectrum consists of Andreev bound states with a dispersion which is closely connected to the underlying electronic structure of the overlayer. We also find that the spectrum has a strongly $k$-dependent induced gap. The properties of the gap are discussed in relation to the thickness of the overlayer, and it is shown that certain states do not participate in the Andreev scattering process.

Source: Physical Review B

DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.91.165142

Authors: Gábor Csire, Balázs Újfalussy, József Cserti, Balázs Győrffy

Institutions: Eötvös Loránd University, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Bristol

Language: English

Topic: Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: European Science Foundation, University of Bristol, Hungarian Scientific Research Fund

Awards: G25636958, G3895430216