Probing the helical edge states of a topological insulator by Cooper-pair injection
Abstract
We consider the proximity effect between a singlet s -wave superconductor and the edge of a quantum spin Hall (QSH) topological insulator. We establish that Andreev reflection at a QSH edge state/superconductor interface is perfect while nonlocal Andreev processes through the superconductor are totally suppressed. We compute the corresponding conductance and noise.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- August 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.82.081303
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1006.0215
- Bibcode:
- 2010PhRvB..82h1303A
- Keywords:
-
- 73.63.-b;
- 74.45.+c;
- Electronic transport in nanoscale materials and structures;
- Proximity effects;
- Andreev effect;
- SN and SNS junctions;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 4 figures