Resonant tunneling through a small quantum dot coupled to superconducting leads

TL;DR

This paper models non-linear electron transport through a small quantum dot with superconducting leads, revealing complex subgap features due to multiple Andreev processes and resonant tunneling, with implications for experimental observation.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive calculation method for I-V characteristics including all multiple quasi-particle and Andreev processes in quantum dots with superconducting contacts.

Findings

Rich subgap structure due to multiple Andreev processes and resonant transmission.

Qualitative explanation of subgap features using a sequential tunneling model.

Predicted experimental setup for observing the effects.

Abstract

We address the problem of non-linear transport through discrete electronic levels in a small quantum dot coupled to superconducting electrodes. In our approach the low temperature I-V characteristics can be calculated including all multiple quasi-particle and Andreev processes. The limit of very weak coupling to the leads and large charging energies is briefly analyzed comparing the calculated lineshapes of the I-V curves with recent experimental results. When the coupling to the leads increases and Coulomb blockade effects can be neglected, the combination of multiple Andreev processes and resonant transmission gives rise to a rich subgap structure which largely differs from the one found in the more studied S-N-S systems. We show how multiple processes can be included within a simple sequential tunneling picture qualitatively explaining the subgap structure. We suggest an experimental set-up where the predicted effects could be observed.