General transport properties of superconducting quantum point contacts: a Green functions approach

Abstract

We discuss the general transport properties of superconducting quantum point contacts. We show how these properties can be obtained from a microscopic model using nonequilibrium Green function techniques. For the case of a one-channel contact we analyze the response under different biasing conditions: constant applied voltage, current bias and microwave-induced transport. Current fluctuations are also analyzed with particular emphasis on thermal and shot-noise. Finally, the case of superconducting transport through a resonant level is discussed. The calculated properties show a remarkable agreement with the available experimental data from atomic-size contacts measurements. We suggest the possibility of extending this comparison to several other predictions of the theory.

10 pages, revtex, 8 figures, submitted to a special issue of Superlattices and Microstructures

References in corpus (5)

• Microscopic origin of the conducting channels in metallic atomic-size contacts
• Observation of Andreev Reflection Enhanced Shot Noise
• Shot noise and coherent multiple charge transfer in superconducting quantum point-contacts
• Theory of AC Josepson Effect in Superconducting Constrictions
• Resistively-shunted superconducting quantum point contacts

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• Critical and excess current through an open quantum dot: Temperature and magnetic field dependence
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• Conductance properties of nanotubes coupled to superconducting leads: signatures of Andreev states dynamics
• Conduction channels of superconducting quantum point contacts
• Microwave-induced pi-junction transition in a superconductor / quantum-dot / superconductor structure
• DC current through a superconducting two-barrier system
• Scalable Effective Models for Superconducting Nanostructures: Applications to Double, Triple, and Quadruple Quantum Dots
• ac Josephson effect in the resonant tunneling through mesoscopic superconducting junctions