Thermal transport in superconductor/normal-metal structures

Abstract

We review experiments over the last ten years on thermal transport in mesoscopic normal metals in contact with a superconductor. The main focus of this effort has been on the exploration of coherent thermal effects in mesoscopic normal-metal/superconductor structures, i.e. effects in which the phase of the quasiparticles participating in thermal transport is important. Coherence in thermal transport manifests itself as oscillations of the thermal conductance and the thermopower of mesoscopic devices with an externally applied magnetic field.

Thermoelectric properties of a ferromagnet-superconductor hybrid junction: Role of interfacial Rashba spin-orbit interaction

“…In comparison to the metallic and semiconducting material, the thermoelectric effects are strongly suppressed in superconductors 1,2 . One of the reasons behind this is the interference of temperature dependent super current with the thermal current.…”

“…The electron-hole symmetry present in the superconducting density of states (DOS) makes the opposite directional electron and hole thermocurrents (generated due to the thermal gradient) nullify each other 3 . Recently, superconducting hybrid structures, especially ferromagnet-superconductor (FS) junctions, have attracted a lot of research interests due to the dramatic boosts of thermoelectric effects in them [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] . Inducing spin-triplet correlation within the superconductor and the asymmetric DOS profiles corresponding to the two spin sub-bands of the ferromagnet are the key features to be utilized in order to make such FS junction suitable in the context of thermal transport.…”

Phase-dependent heat transport through magnetic Josephson tunnel junctions

“…[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Both fields exploit phase-dependent phenomena, which are key characteristics of superconducting circuits. On the one hand, superconducting spintronics is emerging as a possible technology from the discovery of spin-polarized supercurrents 3 in superconductor-ferromagnet (SF) hybrid nanostructures.…”

Thermoelectric Effect in the Normal Conductor-Superconductor Junction: A BTK Approach

“…Explicitly, the EilenbergerUsadel equations [35] were used, as they seem to be the most eective modern tool in the description of thermoelectric properties of superconductive systems. However, despite the great progress achieved in the eld during last two decades, the thermopower of such systems is still not fully understood [36]. In the words of the recent review [36]: a signicant advance in the theory is required before the thermopower of mesoscopic proximity-coupled systems is understood.…”

“…However, despite the great progress achieved in the eld during last two decades, the thermopower of such systems is still not fully understood [36]. In the words of the recent review [36]: a signicant advance in the theory is required before the thermopower of mesoscopic proximity-coupled systems is understood.…”