Directional electron filtering at a superconductor-semiconductor interface
Daniel Breunig (University of Würzburg)
Song Bo Zhang (University of Würzburg)
Björn Trauzettel (University of Würzburg)
Teun Klapwijk (TU Delft - QN/Afdelingsbureau, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, University of Würzburg)
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Abstract
We evaluate the microscopically relevant parameters for electrical transport of hybrid superconductor-semiconductor interfaces. In contrast to the commonly used geometrically constricted metallic systems, we focus on materials with dissimilar electronic properties like low-carrier density semiconductors combined with superconductors, without imposing geometric confinement. We find an intrinsic mode-selectivity, a directional momentum-filter, due to the differences in electronic band structure, which creates a separation of electron reservoirs each at the opposite sides of the semiconductor, while at the same time selecting modes propagating almost perpendicular to the interface. The electronic separation coexists with a transport current dominated by Andreev reflection and low elastic backscattering, both dependent on the gate-controllable electronic properties of the semiconductor.