Microscopic theory of the Andreev gap.

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Phys. Rev. Lett.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.080403· OSTI ID:967044

Micklitz, T; Altland, A

We present a microscopic theory of the Andreev gap, i.e., the phenomenon that the density of states (DOS) of normal chaotic cavities attached to superconductors displays a hard gap centered around the Fermi energy. Our approach is based on a solution of the quantum Eilenberger equation in the regime t{sub D} << t{sub E} where t{sub D} and t{sub E} are the classical dwell time and Ehrenfest time, respectively. We show how quantum fluctuations eradicate the DOS at low energies and compute the profile of the gap to leading order in the parameter t{sub D}/t{sub E}.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC); SFB/TR 12 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 967044
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-65490; PRLTAO; TRN: US0904126
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett., Vol. 103, Issue 2009; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CAVITIES
FLUCTUATIONS
SUPERCONDUCTORS
ENERGY GAP
EQUATIONS