Phase-coherent thermoelectricity in superconducting hybrids (Brief Review)

Abstract

We review some recent advances in studies of phase-coherent thermoelectric effects in superconducting hybrid structures such as, e.g., Andreev interferometers. We elucidate a number of mechanisms of electron-hole symmetry breaking in such systems causing dramatic enhancement of thermoelectric effects. We demonstrate that the flux-dependent thermopower exhibits periodic dependence on the applied magnetic flux $\Phi_x$ which in some limits may reduce to either odd or even functions of $\Phi_x$ in accordance with experimental observations. We also show that dc Josephson current in Andreev interferometers can be controlled and enhanced by applying a temperature gradient which may also cause a nontrivial current-phase relation and a transition to a $\pi$-junction state.