Constructive influence of the induced electron pairing on the Kondo state

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in quantum dots, proximity-induced electron pairing can enhance magnetic ordering and the Kondo effect, contrary to the usual competition between superconductivity and magnetism, supported by theoretical models and potential experiments.

Contribution

It reveals that electron pairing can promote the Kondo state in nanoscopic systems, using a combination of analytical and numerical methods within the Anderson impurity model.

Findings

Kondo resonance can be enhanced by superconducting coupling.

Electron pairing promotes magnetic ordering in quantum dots.

Theoretical analysis supports experimental observability.

Abstract

Superconductivity and magnetism are usually the conflicting (competing) phenomena. We show, however, that in nanoscopic objects the electron pairing may promote the magnetic ordering. Such situation is possible at low temperatures in the quantum dots placed between the conducting and superconducting reservoirs, where the proximity induced electron pairing cooperates with the correlations enhancing the spin-exchange interactions. The emerging Kondo resonance, which is observable in the Andreev conductance, can be significantly enhanced by the coupling to superconducting lead. We explain this intriguing tendency within the Anderson impurity model using: the generalized Schrieffer-Wolff canonical transformation, the second order perturbative treatment of the Coulomb repulsion, and the nonperturbative numerical renormalization group calculations. We also provide hints for experimental observability of this phenomenon.