Quasiparticle-resolved variational theory of Andreev spin qubits

Abstract

An Andreev spin qubit stores a single unpaired spin, yet its coupling to the superconducting phase can be dominated by coherent virtual quasiparticle pairs. We develop a continuum variational description of the odd-parity doublet in a quantum-dot Josephson junction with Coulomb interaction and spin-dependent background tunneling. Retaining configurations with up to two Bogoliubov quasiparticles provides compact analytical expressions for energies and wavefunctions. We benchmark the results against numerical renormalization group calculations and identify sources of error. We obtain closed-form expressions for the conventional and spin-dependent Josephson couplings. Despite their small probability, two-quasiparticle configurations, through coherence with the zero-quasiparticle component, supply exactly half of the leading spin-dependent Josephson coupling even without Coulomb repulsion and dominate it as the repulsion grows. Spin-orbit-induced spin transfer between the dot and the leads produces a Josephson-current contribution that is common to both qubit states and finite at zero phase bias when the dot and lead Zeeman energies differ. We also map the localization of the virtual quasiparticles and the spin density in the leads. The results connect strongly correlated quantum-dot models to effective Hamiltonians used for Andreev-spin-qubit circuits and clarify how the wavefunction structure determines their couplings.