Phase-tunable multiple Andreev reflections in a quantum spin Hall strip

TL;DR

This paper investigates how phase-controlled Majorana bound states in a quantum spin Hall strip influence multiple Andreev reflections, revealing a phase-sensitive even-odd effect in conductance peaks.

Contribution

It demonstrates the phase-dependent suppression and splitting of Andreev reflection peaks due to Majorana states in a quantum spin Hall system.

Findings

Odd conductance peaks disappear at phase difference π.

Even peaks are enhanced by midgap bound states.

Splitting of even peaks occurs when superconductors have different gaps.

Abstract

A quantum spin Hall strip where different edges are contacted by $s$-wave superconductors with a phase difference $\phi$ supports Majorana bound states protected by time-reversal symmetry. We study signatures of these states in a four-terminal setup where two Josephson junctions are built on opposite edges of the strip and the phase difference between superconductors can be controlled by an external flux. Applying a voltage bias across the quantum spin Hall strip results in a sequence of conductance peaks from multiple Andreev reflections. We find that this so-called subharmonic gap structure is very sensitive to the phase difference and displays a phase-controlled even-odd effect, where all odd spikes disappear when the Majorana states are formed for $\phi=\pi$. Moreover, the remaining even spikes split when the superconductors forming the junction have different gap size. We explain these features by showing that any midgap bound states enhance the transmission of the even order multiple Andreev reflections, while the reduced density of states at the gap edges suppresses the odd order ones.