Supercurrent diodes in disordered quantum materials
Main funder
Funder's project number: 355056
Funds granted by main funder (€)
- 549 753,00
Funding program
Project timetable
Project start date: 01/09/2023
Project end date: 31/08/2027
Summary
This project will theoretically investigate the recently discovered supercurrent diode effect (SDE) in new quantum materials. This effect shows up via a non-reciprocal current flow when both time-reversal and inversion symmetries are broken in the superconductor: supercurrent can flow in one direction, whereas only a regular dissipative Ohmic current can flow in the other. SDE is a useful new tool to probe microscopic properties of superconductors by simple electrical measurements, and it has a potential to provide a building block for the new generation of superconducting and cryogenic electronics.
SDE is currently a topic at the forefront of research in condensed matter physics. It is observed in a handful of systems, but many of its aspects are currently poorly understood. This project will contribute to filling this knowledge gap. First, I will study the SDE in novel atomically thin superconductors (e.g., transition metal dichalcogenides such as NbSe2, and twisted bilayer graphene) and in hybrid systems with inhomogeneous magnetization. I will investigate the role of unavoidable disorder, which might be an important limiting factor for the performance of supercurrent diodes. Second, I will study how the diode effect manifests in the regime of superconducting fluctuations. Third, I will investigate the optical responses of (disordered) supercurrent diodes, in particular non-linear responses such as second harmonic generation and photocurrent generation. Finally, I will examine the connection of the quantum geometry, determined by the geometric properties of Bloch wavefunctions, and SDE.
With this fellowship, I will be able to start a new cutting-edge research direction at the Condensed Matter Theory group of JYU, joining my previous experience with SDE with the world-class expertise on quantum materials of the host group. The results of this project will help understand recent experiments on SDE, and possibly inspire further experiments with our international and local collaborators. Moreover, our results will be of direct relevance for realization of new quantum technologies based on SDE, such as supercurrent rectifiers and dissipationless opto-electronic elements.
SDE is currently a topic at the forefront of research in condensed matter physics. It is observed in a handful of systems, but many of its aspects are currently poorly understood. This project will contribute to filling this knowledge gap. First, I will study the SDE in novel atomically thin superconductors (e.g., transition metal dichalcogenides such as NbSe2, and twisted bilayer graphene) and in hybrid systems with inhomogeneous magnetization. I will investigate the role of unavoidable disorder, which might be an important limiting factor for the performance of supercurrent diodes. Second, I will study how the diode effect manifests in the regime of superconducting fluctuations. Third, I will investigate the optical responses of (disordered) supercurrent diodes, in particular non-linear responses such as second harmonic generation and photocurrent generation. Finally, I will examine the connection of the quantum geometry, determined by the geometric properties of Bloch wavefunctions, and SDE.
With this fellowship, I will be able to start a new cutting-edge research direction at the Condensed Matter Theory group of JYU, joining my previous experience with SDE with the world-class expertise on quantum materials of the host group. The results of this project will help understand recent experiments on SDE, and possibly inspire further experiments with our international and local collaborators. Moreover, our results will be of direct relevance for realization of new quantum technologies based on SDE, such as supercurrent rectifiers and dissipationless opto-electronic elements.
