Quantum transport in ballistic $s_\pm$-wave superconductors with interband coupling: conductance spectra, Josephson current, and crossed Andreev reflection

Abstract

We study quantum transport in ballistic $s_\pm$-wave superconductors where coupling between the two bands is included, and apply our model to three possible probes for detecting the internal phase shift of such a pairing state: tunneling spectroscopy in a N$|s_\pm$-wave junction, crossed Andreev reflection in a two-lead N$|s_\pm$-wave$|$N system, and Josephson current in a s-wave$|$I$|s_\pm$-wave Josephson junction. Whereas the first two probes are insensitive to the superconducting phase in the absence of interband coupling, the Josephson effect is intrinsically phase-dependent, and is moreover shown to be relatively insensitive to the strength of the interband coupling. Focusing on the Josephson current, we find a 0-$\pi$ transition as a function of the ratio of effective barrier transparency for the two bands, as well as a similar phase-shift effect as a function of temperature. An essential feature of this $s_\pm$-wave model is non-sinusoidality of the current-phase relation, and we compute the dependence of the critical current on an external magnetic field, showing how this feature may be experimentally observable for this system. We also comment on the possible experimental detection of the phase shift effects in $s_\pm$-wave superconductors.