Time-delay matrix, midgap spectral peak, and thermopower of an Andreev billiard

Abstract

We derive the statistics of the time-delay matrix (energy derivative of the scattering matrix) in an ensemble of superconducting quantum dots with chaotic scattering (Andreev billiards), coupled ballistically to $M$ conducting modes (electron-hole modes in a normal metal or Majorana edge modes in a superconductor). As a first application we calculate the density of states $ρ_0$ at the Fermi level. The ensemble average $\langleρ_0\rangle=δ_0^{-1}M[\max(0,M+2α/β)]^{-1}$ deviates from the bulk value $1/δ_0$ by an amount depending on the Altland-Zirnbauer symmetry indices $α,β$. The divergent average for $M=1,2$ in symmetry class D ($α=-1$, $β=1$) originates from the mid-gap spectral peak of a closed quantum dot, but now no longer depends on the presence or absence of a Majorana zero-mode. As a second application we calculate the probability distribution of the thermopower, contrasting the difference for paired and unpaired Majorana edge modes.

13 pages, 6 figures