Quantum Corrals, Eigenmodes and Quantum Mirages in s-wave Superconductors

TL;DR

This paper investigates the electronic properties of quantum corrals in s-wave superconductors, revealing how impurity states can be projected and how magnetic impurities interact within these structures.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of quantum mirages in superconductors and analyzes the eigenmodes and impurity interactions in magnetic and non-magnetic corrals.

Findings

Quantum mirages can project impurity bound states across the corral.

Enhanced coupling between magnetic impurities depends on impurity potential oscillations.

Eigenmodes in magnetic corrals exhibit specific spatial patterns.

Abstract

We study the electronic structure of magnetic and non-magnetic quantum corrals embedded in s-wave superconductors. We demonstrate that a quantum mirage of an impurity bound state peak can be projected from the occupied into the empty focus of a non-magnetic quantum corral via the excitation of the corral's eigenmodes. We observe an enhanced coupling between magnetic impurities inside the corral, which can be varied through oscillations in the corral's impurity potential. Finally, we discuss the form of eigenmodes in magnetic quantum corrals.