Bimodal distribution of delay times and splitting of the zero-bias conductance peak in a double-barrier normal-superconductor junction

Abstract

We formulate a scattering theory of the proximity effect in a weakly disordered SININ junction (S = superconductor, I = insulating barrier, N = normal metal). This allows to relate the conductance and density of states of the junction to the scattering times $τ$ (eigenvalues of the Wigner-Smith time-delay matrix). The probability density $P(τ)$ has two peaks, at a short time $τ_{\rm min}$ and a late time $τ_{\rm max}$. The density of states at the Fermi level is the geometric mean of the two times. The splitting of the zero-bias conductance peak is given by $\hbar/τ_{\rm max}$.