Photon-Assisted Seebeck Effect in a Quantum Dot Coupled to Majorana Zero Modes

Frontiers in Physics

Tian-Yu He¹  Hailing Sun²  Guofu Zhou³ 

[1] Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China;Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China;National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China;Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China;National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China;Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics Tech. Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China;Academy of Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics, Shenzhen, China;

关键词: Seebeck effect;    quantum dot;    Majorana zero modes;    photon;    nanowire;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fphy.2021.687438

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The Seebeck effect is investigated within the framework of a non-equilibrium Green's function technique in a quantum dot (QD) sandwiched between the left and right leads held at different temperatures. We consider that the QD is shelled by a photon field and is side-coupled to a topological superconductor nanowire hosting Majorana zero modes (MZMs). It is found that the thermopower (Seebeck coefficient) can be obviously enhanced by weak QD-MZMs coupling at low temperatures, in addition to its sign reversion that may be used for detecting the existence of MZMs. In the presence of a photon field, the thermopower can be further enhanced due to decreased electrical conductance when electrons' transport probability through each channel is reduced by photon-assisted tunneling (PAT). The hybridization between the MZMs will also induce sign reversion of the thermopower in the absence of a photon field, whereas it has less impact on the thermopower when the QD is shelled by the photon field.

【 授权许可】

CC BY