Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Thermoelectric effects in normal metals and superconductors are usually very small due to the presence of electron-hole symmetry. Here, we show that superconducting junctions brought out of equilibrium manifest a sizable bipolar thermoelectric effect that stems from a violation of the detailed balance determined by the crucial role of the interactions at the mean-field level. To fully control the effect, we consider a thermally biased junction where the capacitance of the central S′ region is small enough to establish a Coulomb blockade regime. By exploiting charging effects we are able to tune the Seebeck voltage, the thermocurrent, and thereby the power output of this structure, via an external gate voltage. We then analyze the main figures of merit of bipolar thermoelectricity and we prospect for possible applications. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Source: Physical Review Research
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,625
Funder: Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
Awards: G200183423, G3748712494
OpenAlex ID: W4391231814