Implementation of a transverse Cooper-pair rectifier using an N-S junction

Abstract

Nonreciprocal devices are key components in modern electronics covering broad applications ranging from transistors to logic circuits owing to the output rectified signal in the direction parallel to the input. In this Letter, we propose a transverse Cooper-pair rectifier in which a nonreciprocal current is perpendicular to the driving field, when inversion, time-reversal, and mirror symmetries are broken simultaneously. The Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk formalism is developed to describe the transverse current-voltage relation in a normal-metal–superconductor tunneling junction, where symmetry constraints are achieved by an effective built-in supercurrent manifesting in an asymmetric and anisotropic Andreev reflection. The asymmetry in the Andreev reflection is induced when inversion and time-reversal symmetry are broken by the supercurrent component parallel to the junction while the anisotropy occurs when the mirror symmetry with respect to the normal of the junction interface is broken by the perpendicular supercurrent component to the junction. Compared to the conventional longitudinal one, the transverse rectifier supports fully polarized diode efficiency and colossal nonreciprocal conductance rectification, completely decoupling the path of the input excitation from the output rectified signal. This Letter provides a formalism for realizing transverse nonreciprocity in superconducting junctions, which is expected to be achieved by modifying current experimental setups and may pave the way for future low-dissipation superconducting electronics.

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