Fig. 1
From: Thermoelectric Effect in a Correlated Quantum Dot Side-Coupled to Majorana Bound States
Schematic of the model (color online). a Schematic of the simulation structure composed by a QD with gate-tunable energy level εd which can be occupied by either a spin-up or a spin-down electron. The QD is connected to the left and right leads held at different temperatures with coupling strength ΓL/R. The MBSs η1/2 are formed in the ends of the semiconducting nanowire and are coupled to the spin-up electrons in the QD due to the chiral nature of the Majorana fermions with strengths of λ1 and λ2, respectively. The energy state of spin-up electrons will be changed by MBSs-QD coupling, and then, the strength and sign of the thermopower S will be influenced. In the present model, we assume the temperature of the left lead TL is higher than that of the right one TR, and then, there are more electrons (empty states) being excited above (below) the chemical potential in the left lead than those in the right lead. b, c The electron tunneling processes and the resulted thermopower in the absence of MBSs-QD coupling. In b, the QD energy level εd is above the chemical potential of the leads μL/R=μ, and then, electrons from the occupied states εd>μ in the left hotter lead will tunnel through dot state εd to the empty state in the right colder lead, resulting in negative thermopopwer S<0. In c, εd<μ, and then, the sign of the thermopower is reversed accordingly