Fano versus Kondo resonances in a multilevel "semiopen" quantum dot

Linear conductance across a large quantum dot via a single level epsilon(0) with large hybridization to the contacts is strongly sensitive to quasibound states localized in the dot and weakly coupled to epsilon(0). The conductance oscillates with the gate voltage due to interference of the Fano type. At low temperature and Coulomb blockade, Kondo correlations damp the oscillations on an extended range of gate voltage values, by freezing the occupancy of the epsilon(0) level itself. As a consequence, the antiresonances of Fano origin are washed out. The results are in good correspondence with experimental data for a large quantum dot in the semiopen regime.     

S-Matrix formalism for particles interacting with phonon fields: Coherent state representation

We apply the quasiparticle picture to the interaction between a fermion and a boson field using a coherent states representation of theS matrix. Its matrix elements between single particle states are explicitly evaluated in terms of a path integral. The method is extended to include dispersion in the excitation spectrum and applied to the case of a metal with electron-hole symmetry. Its relation with perturbation theory is discussed and the second order perturbative result for polarons in insulators is recovered.     

Optical Abelian lattice gauge theories

We discuss a general framework for the realization of a family of Abelian lattice gauge theories, i.e., link models or gauge magnets, in optical lattices. We analyze the properties of these models that make them suitable for quantum simulations. Within this class, we study in detail the phases of a U(1)$U\left(1\right)$-invariant lattice gauge theory in 2+1$2+1$ dimensions, originally proposed by P. Orland. By using exact diagonalization, we extract the low-energy states for small lattices, up to 4×4$4\times 4$. We confirm that the model has two phases, with the confined entangled one characterized by strings wrapping around the whole lattice. We explain how to study larger lattices by using either tensor network techniques or digital quantum simulations with Rydberg atoms loaded in optical lattices, where we discuss in detail a protocol for the preparation of the ground-state. We propose two key experimental tests that can be used as smoking gun of the proper implementation of a gauge theory in optical lattices. These tests consist in verifying the absence of spontaneous (gauge) symmetry breaking of the ground-state and the presence of charge confinement. We also comment on the relation between standard compact U(1)$U\left(1\right)$ lattice gauge theory and the model considered in this paper.     

Quantum interference of electrons in a ring: tuning of the geometrical phase

We calculate the oscillations of the dc conductance across a mesoscopic ring, simultaneously tuned by applied magnetic and electric fields orthogonal to the ring. The oscillations depend on the Aharonov-Bohm flux and of the spin-orbit coupling. They result from mixing of the dynamical phase, including the Zeeman spin splitting, and of geometric phases. By changing the applied fields, the geometric phase contribution to the conductance oscillations can be tuned from the adiabatic (Berry) to the nonadiabatic (Ahronov-Anandan) regime. To model a realistic device, we also include nonzero backscattering at the connection between ring and contacts, and a random phase for electron wave function, accounting for dephasing effects.     

Evidence for a minigap in YBCO grain boundary Josephson junctions

Self-assembled YBaCuO diffusive grain boundary submicron Josephson junctions offer a realization of a special regime of the proximity effect, where normal state coherence prevails on the superconducting coherence in the barrier region. Resistance oscillations from the current-voltage characteristic encode mesoscopic information on the junction and more specifically on the minigap induced in the barrier. Their persistence at large voltages is evidence of the long lifetime of the antinodal (high energy) quasiparticles.     

Junction of three off-critical quantum Ising chains and two-channel Kondo effect in a superconductor

We show that a junction of three off-critical quantum Ising chains can be regarded as a quantum spin chain realization of the two-channel spin-1/2 overscreened Kondo effect with two superconducting leads. We prove that, as long as the Kondo temperature is larger than the superconducting gap, the equivalent Kondo model flows towards the two channel Kondo fixed point. We argue that our system provides the first controlled realization of two channel Kondo effect with superconducting leads. Besides its theoretical interest, this result is of importance for potential applications to a number of contexts, including the analysis of the quantum entanglement properties of a Kondo system.     

Time of scattering in the one-dimensional inelastic tunnelling

Summary The various definitions for time of tunnelling across a barrier in one dimension, that have been introduced in the elastic case and discussed by Buttiker and various authors, are here extended allowing for inelastic losses to occur inside the barrier. The framework of a multichannel scattering theory is here used. Their relevance to inelastic tunnelling and resonant tunnelling is critically analysed. Results are reported for the average delay time of eq. (24) in the case of an inelastic point interaction with a harmonic oscillator inside the barrier. To speed up publication, the author of this paper has agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Spin fractionalization of an even number of electrons in a quantum Dot

We find that Kondo resonant conductance can occur in a quantum dot in the Coulomb blockade regime with an even number of electrons N. The contacts are attached to the dot in a pillar configuration, and a magnetic field B( perpendicular) along the axis is applied. B( perpendicular) lifts the spin degeneracy of the dot energies. Usually, this prevents the system from developing the Kondo effect. Tuning B( perpendicular) to the value B(*) where levels with different total spin cross restores both the degeneracy and the Kondo effect. We analyze a dot charged with N = 2 electrons. Coupling to the contacts is antiferromagnetic due to a spin selection rule and, in the Kondo state, the charge is unchanged while the total spin on the dot is S = 1/2.