Bimodal distribution of delay times and splitting of the zero-bias conductance peak in a double-barrier normal-superconductor junction

TL;DR

This paper develops a scattering theory for a disordered SININ junction, revealing a bimodal distribution of delay times that explains the splitting of the zero-bias conductance peak.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scattering approach linking conductance and density of states to delay time distributions in a weakly disordered superconductor-normal metal junction.

Findings

Probability density of delay times has two peaks.

Zero-bias conductance peak splitting relates to the maximum delay time.

Density of states is the geometric mean of two delay times.

Abstract

We formulate a scattering theory of the proximity effect in a weakly disordered SININ junction (S = superconductor, I = insulating barrier, N = normal metal). This allows to relate the conductance and density of states of the junction to the scattering times $\tau$ (eigenvalues of the Wigner-Smith time-delay matrix). The probability density $P(\tau)$ has two peaks, at a short time $\tau_{\rm min}$ and a late time $\tau_{\rm max}$. The density of states at the Fermi level is the geometric mean of the two times. The splitting of the zero-bias conductance peak is given by $\hbar/\tau_{\rm max}$.