<p>Thermoelectricity is generally understood as a classical effect emerging from energy-dependent transport asymmetries. Here, we uncover a purely <i>quantum</i> mechanism, where a superconducting S-I-S’ tunnel junction in thermal equilibrium develops a nonlinear bipolar thermoelectric response owing to the dynamical Coulomb blockade and the emission-absorption imbalance of a cold electromagnetic bath. Two representative environments are analysed, revealing Seebeck coefficients up to 100 μV/K for realistic junction parameters. Because the response directly reflects the spectral properties of the surrounding environment, our results suggest that bipolar quantum thermoelectricity could provide a new route for spectroscopic sensing of electromagnetic modes and for designing low-temperature thermoelectric devices with environmentally engineered performance.</p>

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Quantum bipolar thermoelectricity

  • Filippo Antola,
  • Giorgio De Simoni,
  • Francesco Giazotto,
  • Alessandro Braggio

摘要

Thermoelectricity is generally understood as a classical effect emerging from energy-dependent transport asymmetries. Here, we uncover a purely quantum mechanism, where a superconducting S-I-S’ tunnel junction in thermal equilibrium develops a nonlinear bipolar thermoelectric response owing to the dynamical Coulomb blockade and the emission-absorption imbalance of a cold electromagnetic bath. Two representative environments are analysed, revealing Seebeck coefficients up to 100 μV/K for realistic junction parameters. Because the response directly reflects the spectral properties of the surrounding environment, our results suggest that bipolar quantum thermoelectricity could provide a new route for spectroscopic sensing of electromagnetic modes and for designing low-temperature thermoelectric devices with environmentally engineered performance.