Phase-Coherent Thermoelectricity in Superconducting Hybrids (Brief Review)

We review some recent advances in studies of phase-coherent thermoelectric effects in superconducting hybrid structures such as, e.g., Andreev interferometers. We elucidate a number of mechanisms of electron–hole symmetry breaking in such systems causing dramatic enhancement of thermoelectric effects. We demonstrate that the flux-dependent thermopower exhibits periodic dependence on the applied magnetic flux which in some limits may reduce to either odd or even functions of in accordance with experimental observations. We also show that dc Josephson current in Andreev interferometers can be controlled and enhanced by applying a temperature gradient which may also cause a nontrivial current-phase relation and a transition to a π-junction state.