Physics of Proximity Josephson Sensor

We study the proximity Josephson sensor (PJS) in both bolometric and calorimetric operation and optimize it for different temperature ranges between 25 mK and a few Kelvin. We investigate how the radiation power is absorbed in the sensor and find that the irradiated sensor is typically in a weak nonequilibrium state. We show in detail how the proximity of the superconductors affects the device response: for example via changes in electron-phonon coupling and out-of-equilibrium noise. In addition, we estimate the applicability of graphene as the absorber material.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Journal of Applied Physics, v2: Addition of a new section discussing the radiation coupling to the device, several minor change

Functional renormalization group study of the Anderson--Holstein model

We present a comprehensive study of the spectral and transport properties in the Anderson--Holstein model both in and out of equilibrium using the functional renormalization group (FRG). We show how the previously established machinery of Matsubara and Keldysh FRG can be extended to include the local phonon mode. Based on the analysis of spectral properties in equilibrium we identify different regimes depending on the strength of the electron--phonon interaction and the frequency of the phonon mode. We supplement these considerations with analytical results from the Kondo model. We also calculate the non-linear differential conductance through the Anderson--Holstein quantum dot and find clear signatures of the presence of the phonon mode.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

Altitude dependence of plasma density in the auroral zone

International audienceWe study the altitude dependence of plasma depletions above the auroral region in the 5000?30 000 km altitude range using five years of Polar spacecraft potential data. We find that besides a general decrease of plasma density with altitude, there frequently exist additional density depletions at 2?4 RE radial distance, where RE is the Earth radius. The position of the depletions tends to move to higher altitude when the ionospheric footpoint is sunlit as compared to darkness. Apart from these cavities at 2?4 RE radial distance, separate cavities above 4 RE occur in the midnight sector for all Kp and also in the morning sector for high Kp. In the evening sector our data remain inconclusive in this respect. This holds for the ILAT range 68?74. These additional depletions may be substorm-related. Our study shows that auroral phenomena modify the plasma density in the auroral region in such a way that a nontrivial and interesting altitude variation results, which reflects the nature of the auroral acceleration processes

Theory of temperature fluctuation statistics in superconductor-normal metal tunnel structures

We describe the statistics of temperature fluctuations in a SINIS structure, where a normal metal island (N) is coupled by tunnel junctions (I) to two superconducting leads (S). We specify conditions under which this structure exhibits manifestly non-Gaussian fluctuations of temperature. We consider both the Gaussian and non-Gaussian regimes of these fluctuations, and the current fluctuations that are caused by the fluctuating temperature. We also describe a measurement setup that could be used to observe the temperature fluctuations.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, final versio

Fully Overheated Single-Electron Transistor

We consider the fully overheated single-electron transistor, where the heat balance is determined entirely by electron transfers. We find three distinct transport regimes corresponding to cotunneling, single-electron tunneling, and a competition between the two. We find an anomalous sensitivity to temperature fluctuations at the crossover between the two latter regimes that manifests in an exceptionally large Fano factor of current noise.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, includes Appendi

Nonequilibrium characteristics in all-superconducting tunnel structures

We study the nonequilibrium characteristics of superconducting tunnel structures in the case when one of the superconductors is a small island confined between large superconductors. The state of this island can be probed for example via the supercurrent flowing through it. We study both the far-from-equilibrium limit when the rate of injection for the electrons into the island exceeds the energy relaxation inside it, and the quasiequilibrium limit when the electrons equilibrate between themselves. We also address the crossover between these limits employing the collision integral derived for the superconducting case. The clearest signatures of the nonequilibrium limit are the anomalous heating effects seen as a supercurrent suppression at low voltages, and the hysteresis at voltages close to the gap edge $2\Delta/e$, resulting from the peculiar form of the nonequilibrium distribution function.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

The occurrence frequency of auroral potential structures and electric fields as a function of altitude using Polar/EFI data

The aim of the paper is to study how auroral potential structures close at high altitude. We analyse all electric field data collected by Polar on auroral field lines in 1996–2001 by integrating the electric field along the spacecraft orbit to obtain the plasma potential, from which we identify potential minima by an automatic method. From these we estimate the associated effective mapped-down electric field <i>E<sub>i</sub></i>, defined as the depth of the potential minimum divided by its half-width in the ionosphere. Notice that although we use the ionosphere as a reference altitude, the field <i>E<sub>i</sub></i> does not actually exist in the ionosphere but is just a convenient computational quantity. We obtain the statistical distribution of <i>E<sub>i</sub></i> as a function of altitude, magnetic local time (MLT), <i>K<sub>p</sub></i> index and the footpoint solar illumination condition. Surprisingly, we find two classes of electric field structures. The first class consists of the low-altitude potential structures that are presumably associated with inverted-V regions and discrete auroral arcs and their set of associated phenomena. We show that the first class exists only below ~3<i>R<sub>E</sub></i> radial distance, and it occurs in all nightside MLT sectors (<i>R<sub>E</sub></i>=Earth radius). The second class exists only above radial distance <i>R</i>=4<i>R<sub>E</sub></i> and almost only in the midnight MLT sector, with a preference for high <i>K<sub>p</sub></i> values. Interestingly, in the middle altitudes (<i>R</i>=3–4<i>R<sub>E</sub></i>) the number of potential minima is small, suggesting that the low and high altitude classes are not simple field-aligned extensions of each other. This is also underlined by the fact that statistically the high altitude structures seem to be substorm-related, while the low altitude structures seem to correspond to stable auroral arcs. The new finding of the existence of the two classes is important for theories of auroral acceleration, since it supports a closed potential structure model for stable arcs, while during substorms, different superposed processes take place that are associated with the disconnected high-altitude electric field structures.<br><br> <b>Key words.</b> Magnetospheric physics (electric fields; auroral phenomena) – Space plasma physics (electrostatic structures

Framing activities and the co-evolvement of products and operations in new ventures

New ventures need to simultaneously develop both their first offering and the operations of the venture itself. This paper extends the notion of problem-solution co-evolvement from product design to venture design, presenting results from four new Finnish ventures in the midst of creating their first offering market-ready. Based on qualitative analysis of interviews of the entrepreneur teams of these ventures, it is suggested that differences in how the venture idea is initially approached translates into different types of co-evolvement between the offering and the operations of the new ventures. In two of the companies, the product frame had been collaboratively created and remained relatively stable. Development activities within product, business model and working practices did not require large changes in the other arenas. In contrast, the product frame was shifting in the two other ventures, and the co- evolvement of the product problem and solutions had major implications for the business model and operations, and vice versa. The entrepreneurs in these companies would have seemingly benefited from having more structured systematic micro-level working practices to balance the variance in the offering and operations. By conceptually linking venture formation to co-evolvement resulting from the initial frame of development efforts, the study serves to strengthen the link between product development and entrepreneurship research.Peer reviewe