Current-current correlations in hybrid superconducting and normal-metal multiterminal structures

¹ Laboratoire de Physique et Modélisation des Milieux Condensés, CNRS and Université Joseph Fourier - B.P. 166, 38042 Grenoble, France
² Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique, DSM/DRFMC/SPSMS F-38054 Grenoble, France

Received: 15 October 2003
Accepted: 30 April 2004

Abstract

We consider a hybrid system consisting of two normal metal leads weakly connected to a superconductor. Current-current correlations of the normal leads are studied in the tunneling limit at subgap voltages and temperatures. We find that only two processes contribute to the cross-correlation: the crossed Andreev reflection (emission of electrons in different leads) and the elastic cotunneling. Both processes are possible due to the finite size of the Cooper pair. Noise measurements can thus be used to probe directly the superconducting wave function without the drawbacks appearing in average current measurements where the current is dominated by direct Andreev reflection processes. By tuning the voltages it is possible to change the sign of the cross-correlation. Quantitative predictions are presented both in the diffusive and ballistic regimes.