Phase-tunable thermal rectification in the topological SQUIPT

Abstract

We theoretically explore the behavior of thermal transport in the topological SQUIPT, in the linear and nonlinear regime. The device consists of a topological Josephson junction based on a two-dimensional topological insulator in contact with two superconducting leads, and a probe tunnel coupled to the topological edge states of the junction. We compare the performance of a normal metal and a graphene probe, showing that the topological SQUIPT behaves as a passive thermal rectifier and that it can reach a rectification coefficient of up to $~ 145\%$ with the normal metal probe. Moreover, the interplay between the superconducting leads and the helical edge states leads to a unique behaviour due to a Doppler shift like effect, that allows one to influence quasi-particle transport through the edge channels via the magnetic flux that penetrates the junction. Exploiting this effect, we can greatly enhance the rectification coefficient for temperatures below the critical temperature $T_\text{C}$ in an active rectification scheme.