Josephson current through a nanoscale magnetic quantum dot

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the Josephson current through a magnetic quantum dot, revealing its dependence on key parameters and identifying distinct quantum phases and transition points.

Contribution

It introduces a numerically exact Monte Carlo approach to study the crossover from Kondo physics to $ ext{π}$ junction behavior in magnetic quantum dots.

Findings

Josephson current depends only on $\Delta/T_K$ in the magnetic regime.

Four distinct quantum phases are identified in the junction behavior.

A local minimum in the critical current as a function of $\Delta/T_K$ is observed.

Abstract

We present theoretical results for the equilibrium Josephson current through an Anderson dot tuned into the magnetic regime, using Hirsch-Fye Monte Carlo simulations covering the complete crossover from Kondo-dominated physics to $\pi$ junction behavior in a numerically exact way. Within the `magnetic' regime, $U/\Gamma\gg 1$ and $\epsilon_0/\Gamma\leq 1$, the Josephson current is found to depend only on $\Delta/T_K$, where $\Delta$ is the BCS gap and $T_K$ the Kondo temperature. The junction behavior can be classified into four different quantum phases. We describe these behaviors, specify the associated three transition points, and identify a local minimum in the critical current of the junction as a function of $\Delta/T_K$.