Geometric phases and Andreev reflection in hybrid rings

Abstract

We study the Andreev reflection of a hybrid mesoscopic ring in the presence of a crown-like magnetic texture. By calculating the linear-response conductance as a function of the Zeeman splitting and the magnetic flux through the ring, we are able to identify signatures of the Berry phase acquired by the electrons during transport. This is proposed as a novel detection scheme of the spin-related Berry phase, having the advantage of a larger signal contrast and robustness against ensemble averaging.

6 pages, 6 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. B