Showing papers by "Tomas Löfwander published in 2017"

Impurity scattering and size quantization effects in a single graphene nanoflake

Abstract: By using Fourier-transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy we measure the interference patterns produced by the impurity scattering of confined Dirac quasiparticles in epitaxial graphene nanoflakes. Upon comparison of the experimental results with tight-binding calculations of realistic model flakes, we show that the characteristic features observed in the Fourier-transformed local density of states are related to scattering between different transverse modes (subbands) of a graphene nanoflake and allow direct insight into the gapped electronic spectrum of graphene. We also observe a strong reduction of quasiparticle lifetime which is attributed to the interaction with the underlying substrate. In addition, we show that the distribution of the on-site energies at flower defects leads to an effectively broken pseudospin selection rule, where intravalley backscattering is allowed.

Spontaneously broken translational symmetry at edges of high-temperature superconductors: thermodynamics in magnetic field

Abstract: We investigate equilibrium properties, including structure of the order parameter, superflow patterns, and thermodynamics of low-temperature surface phases of layered d_{x^2-y^2}-wave superconductors in magnetic field. At zero external magnetic field, time-reversal symmetry and continuous translational symmetry along the edge are broken spontaneously in a second order phase transition at a temperature $T^*\approx 0.18 T_c$, where $T_c$ is the superconducting transition temperature. At the phase transition there is a jump in the specific heat that scales with the ratio between the edge length $D$ and layer area ${\cal A}$ as $(D\xi_0/{\cal A})\Delta C_d$, where $\Delta C_d$ is the jump in the specific heat at the d-wave superconducting transition and $\xi_0$ is the superconducting coherence length. The phase with broken symmetry is characterized by a gauge invariant superfluid momentum ${\bf p}_s$ that forms a non-trivial planar vector field with a chain of sources and sinks along the edges with a period of approximately $12\xi_0$, and saddle point disclinations in the interior. To find out the relative importance of time-reversal and translational symmetry breaking we apply an external field that breaks time-reversal symmetry explicitly. We find that the phase transition into the state with the non-trivial ${\bf p}_s$ vector field keeps its main signatures, and is still of second order. In the external field, the saddle point disclinations are pushed towards the edges, and thereby a chain of edge motifs are formed, where each motif contains a source, a sink, and a saddle point. Due to a competing paramagnetic response at the edges, the phase transition temperature $T^*$ is slowly suppressed with increasing magnetic field strength, but the phase with broken symmetry survives into the mixed state.

Spontaneous generation of fractional vortex-antivortex pairs at single edges of high-Tc superconductors

Abstract: Unconventional d-wave superconductors with pair-breaking edges are predicted to have ground states with spontaneously broken time-reversal and translational symmetries. We use the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity to demonstrate that such phases can exist at any single pair-breaking facet. This implies that a greater variety of systems, not necessarily mesoscopic in size, should be unstable to such symmetry breaking. The density of states averaged over the facet displays a broad peak centered at zero energy, which is consistent with experimental findings of a broad zero-bias conductance peak with a temperature-independent width at low temperatures.

Shot noise in a harmonically driven ballistic graphene transistor

Abstract: We study time-dependent electron transport and quantum noise in a ballistic graphene field effect transistor driven by an ac gate potential. The nonlinear response to the ac signal is computed through Floquet theory for scattering states and Landauer-Buttiker theory for charge current and its fluctuations. Photon-assisted excitation of a quasibound state in the top-gate barrier leads to resonances in transmission that strongly influence the noise properties. For strong doping of graphene under source and drain contacts, when electrons are transmitted through the channel via evanescent waves, the resonance leads to a substantial suppression of noise. The Fano factor is then reduced well below the pseudodiffusive value, F<1/3, also for strong ac drive. The good signal-to-noise ratio (small Fano factor) on resonance suggests that the device is a good candidate for high-frequency (THz) radiation detection. We show analytically that Klein tunneling (total suppression of back-reflection) persists for perpendicular incidence also when the barrier is driven harmonically. Although the transmission is inelastic and distributed among sideband energies, a sum rule leads to total suppression of shot noise.

Resonant single-parameter pumping in graphene

Abstract: We present results for non-adiabatic single-parameter pumping in a ballistic graphene field-effect transistor. We investigate how scattering from an ac-driven top gate results in dc charge current from source to drain in an asymmetric setup caused either by geometry of the device or different doping of leads. Charge current is computed using Floquet scattering matrix approach in Landauer-Buttiker operator formalism. We single out two mechanisms contributing to the pumped current: Fabry-Perot interference in open channels and quasibound state resonant scattering through closed channels. We identify two distinct parameter regimes based on the quasibound state scattering mechanism: high and low doping of contacts compared to the frequency of the ac drive. We show that the latter regime results in a stronger peak pump current. We discuss how back gate potential and temperature dependence can be used to change the direction of the pumped current, operating the device as a switch.