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arXiv:2102.05206 · Physical Review Research

Microwave sensing of Andreev bound states in a gate-defined superconducting quantum point contact

Vivek Chidambaram, Anders Kringhøj, Lucas Casparis, Ferdinand Kuemmeth, Tiantian Wang, Candice Thomas, Sergei Gronin, Geoffrey C. Gardner, Zhengyi Cui, Chenlu Liu, Kristof Moors, Michael J. Manfra, Karl D. Petersson, M. R. Connolly

Published May 31, 2022• 12 citations
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Abstract

We use a superconducting microresonator as a cavity to sense absorption of microwaves by a superconducting quantum point contact defined by surface gates over a proximitized two-dimensional electron gas. Renormalization of the cavity frequency with phase difference across the point contact is consistent with coupling to Andreev bound states. Near \ensuremath{\pi} phase difference, we observe random fluctuations in absorption with gate voltage, related to quantum interference-induced modulations in the electron transmission. Close to pinch-off, we identify features consistent with the presence of a single Andreev bound state and describe the Andreev-cavity interaction using a Jaynes-Cummings model. By fitting the weak Andreev-cavity coupling, we extract \ensuremath{\sim}GHz decoherence consistent with charge noise and the transmission dispersion associated with a localized state.

DOI
10.1103/physrevresearch.4.023170

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We use a superconducting microresonator as a cavity to sense absorption of microwaves by a superconducting quantum point contact defined by surface gates over a proximitized two-dimensional electron gas. Renormalization of the cavity frequency with phase difference across the point contact is consistent with coupling to Andreev bound states. Near \ensuremath{\pi} phase difference, we observe random fluctuations in absorption with gate voltage, related to quantum interference-induced modulations in the electron transmission. Close to pinch-off, we identify features consistent with the presence of a single Andreev bound state and describe the Andreev-cavity interaction using a Jaynes-Cummings model. By fitting the weak Andreev-cavity coupling, we extract \ensuremath{\sim}GHz decoherence consistent with charge noise and the transmission dispersion associated with a localized state.
A study of the Andreev level current through a weakly voltage-biased single-mode superconducting quantum point contact under microwave irradiation is presented. The applied microwave field induces resonant transitions between the current carrying Andreev states localized to the contact region, which results in an increase of the dc subgap current by several orders of magnitude. The applied voltage-bias couples to the superconductor phase difference across the junction, which will evolve in time. In turn the Andreev levels will oscillate adiabatically within the superconductor energy gap. Depending on the frequency of the applied field there can be either one or two resonances per oscillation period. When considering the case of two resonances the calculated dc-current exhibits an interference pattern as a function of inverse voltage. A measurement of the oscillation period would make it possible to reconstruct the Andreev level spectrum. Further, a detailed study is conducted concerning the microwave-induced current as a function of voltage bias, and the amplitude and frequency of the applied field. In realistic experimental situations there are equilibrium fluctuations of the applied voltage bias and sometimes impurity induced noise in the contact transparency. The amount of dephasing induced on the interference pattern by these fluctuations is estimated. In most cases the interference pattern will be subject to some amount of decay. However, there are parameter values for which this decay will be small. The decay originating from equilibrium fluctuations is predicted to have a non-monotonic dependence on the position of the resonances, while the decay induced by impurities should increase linearly when the separation between the resonances is increased. This difference could be used to distinguish between the two sources. The results also indicate that it should be possible to experimentally investigate the coupling between Andreev states and their environment, explicitly the impedance which the contact "sees" and the coupling strength between impurities and Andreev states.
We present an extensive theoretical analysis of the supercurrent of a superconducting point contact of arbitrary transparency in the presence of a microwave field. Our paper is mainly based on two different approaches: a two-level model that describes the dynamics of the Andreev bound states in these systems and a fully microscopic method based on the Keldysh--Green function technique. This combination provides both a deep insight into the physics of irradiated Josephson junctions and quantitative predictions for arbitrary range of parameters. The main predictions of our analysis are: (i) for weak fields and low temperatures, the microwaves can induce transitions between the Andreev states, leading to a large suppression of the supercurrent at certain values of the phase; (ii) at strong fields, the current-phase relation is strongly distorted and the corresponding critical current does not follow a simple Bessel-function-like behavior; and (iii) at finite temperatures, the microwave field can enhance the critical current by means of transitions connecting the continuum of states outside the gap region and the Andreev states inside the gap. Our paper is of relevance for a large variety of superconducting weak links as well as for the proposals of using the Andreev bound states of a point contact for quantum computing applications.
Nondissipative Josephson current through nanoscale superconducting constrictions is carried by spectroscopically sharp energy states, the so-called Andreev states. Although theoretically predicted almost 40 years ago, no direct spectroscopic evidence of these Andreev bound states exists to date. We propose a novel type of spectroscopy based on embedding a superconducting constriction, formed by a single-level molecule junction, in a microwave QED cavity environment. In the electron-dressed cavity spectrum we find a polariton excitation at twice the Andreev bound state energy, and a superconducting-phase-dependent ac Stark shift of the cavity frequency. Dispersive measurement of this frequency shift can be used for Andreev bound state spectroscopy.
We demonstrate microwave measurements of the Andreev-bound-state (ABS) spectrum in planar Josephson junctions (JJs) defined in Ge high-mobility two-dimensional hole gases contacted by superconducting platinum germanosilicide ( Pt Si Ge ). The JJs and readout circuitry are located on separate chips and inductively coupled via flip-chip bonding. For a device with 350-nm junction length, the spectroscopic signatures were consistent with the short-junction limit, with an induced superconducting gap Δ ∗ ≈ 48 μ eV and transmission τ ≈ 0.94 . The interaction between the highest-transmission ABS and the resonator was well described by a Jaynes-Cummings model with a vacuum Rabi splitting of approximately 6 MHz. A device with a junction length of 1 μ m showed an ABS spectrum consistent with a long-junction model. Time-resolved monitoring of the readout resonator in the dispersive regime revealed gate-voltage tunable-junction parity fluctuations on the time scale of seconds. Our work indicates a viable path toward hybrid quantum devices based on planar Ge . Published by the American Physical Society 2024
In this thesis we present theoretical investigations of the effects of Andreev bound states on the current transport in superconducting interferometers. We also investigate the slow dynamics of the Andreev states in a superconducting point contact, and the possible application as a quantum bit. We consider superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) and normal metalsuperconductor (NS) interferometers, where the contact region is a Y-shaped normal metal wave guide, and the two connection points to the same superconducting electrode can have different phases. The electric current in the interferometer is calculated as a function of the applied voltage and the phase difference . Andreev reflection in SNS and NS interferometers incorporates two features: interference in the arms of the Y-shaped normal region, and interplay with Andreev resonances. The latter feature yields rich phase dependent current structures in the subgap voltage region. The interference effect leads to a suppression of the current structures at . We investigate the effects on the Josephson current in NS interferometers due to current injection from the normal electrode. The two main effects of the nonequilibrium situation are: nonequilibrium population of the Andreev levels, which can result in enhancement, suppression, or even sign reversal of the Josephson current, and an anomalous interference Josephson effect, which gives rise to a long range Josephson effect, increasing with the voltage up to the superconducting gap . The two Andreev states in a superconducting quantum point contact can be accessed for manipulation and measurement by embedding the point contact in a superconducting loop. We calculate an effective Hamiltonian for the slow dynamics of the Andreev two-level system in the ring. Furthermore, we discuss methods of manipulation of the Andreev levels, and coupling of qubits. The state of the Andreev two-level system can be read out by monitoring the macroscopic quantum tunneling in a current biased Josephson junction, which is embedded in the superconducting ring of the qubit. We discuss the effects on the qubit, the readout scheme and the signal-to-noise ratio. THESIS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Coherent processes in Superconducting quantum interferometers and qubits
Superconducting weak-link junctions host electron--hole hybridized excitations called Andreev bound states, central to mesoscopic transport and emerging quantum information platforms. Andreev physics has so far been synonymous with the microwave range. However, advancements in superconductor--semiconductor hybrid junctions open the door to the characterization, and manipulation, of Andreev states by light. Here we introduce a model for light--Andreev interaction, with distinct features: Electrons transitioning into Andreev levels can sidestep Pauli exclusion, resulting in two optical absorption resonances separated by twice the bound state energy. One resonance populates the Andreev state and the other empties it, enabling optical control of Andreev qubit parity; pumping both resets the junction and prevents saturation. Given their strong microwave coupling, we show how Andreev bound states can operate as optical--to--microwave transducers with MHz-scale intermode coupling, a key ingredient for heat load management and quantum networking. We illustrate these effects with realistic device parameters. Our results highlight the possibilities in the new field of Andreev optoelectronics.