Magnetic field effects in the onset of superconductivity

Using the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory the influence of a finite and even strong magnetic field on the fluctuations in superconductors aboveT _c is studied. We calculate the dynamical conductivity, the Hall angle, and the static magnetisation from the fluctuations of the charge current associated with the fluctuations of the order parameter. It is found that the magnetic field generally enhances the singular contributions of the fluctuations to the conductivity and the susceptibility. Associated with this enhancement is a reduction of the characteristic frequency scale close toT _c .     

Holographic superconductor models in the non-minimal derivative coupling theory

We study a general class of holographic superconductor models via the Stu¨ckelberg mechanism in the non-minimal derivative coupling theory in which the charged scalar field is kinetically coupling to Einstein’s tensor. We explore the effects of the coupling parameter on the critical temperature, the order of phase transitions and the critical expo- nents near the second-order phase transition point. Moreover, we compute the electrical conductivity using the probe approximation and check the ratios ω g /T c for the different coupling parameters.     

Fluctuations in superconductors belowT c

Thermal fluctuations of the order parameter in the superconducting state are investigated, particularly near the transition temperature, using the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory. These fluctuations give rise to a contribution of the dynamical conductivity, which strongly increases as the temperature is raised towardsT _c , in contrast to the temperature dependence of the electromagnetic response due to the static order parameter. At the transition temperature this contribution joins continuously to the extra response (conductivity, susceptibility) which has been calculated and observed in the temperature region aboveT _c , where it represents the onset of superconductivity in the normal state. Particularly the dynamical conductivity due to fluctuations is calculated and discussed for bulk material, thin films and thin wires belowT _c . The temperature and frequency dependence should be observable in microwave experiments.     

The onset of deconfinement inSU(2) lattice gauge theory

InSU(2) lattice gauge theory, we study deviations from ideal gas behaviour near the deconfinement point. On lattices of sizeN _σ ³ ×4,N _σ=8, 12, 18 and 26, we calculate the quantityΔ≡(ε?3P)/T ⁴. It increases sharply just aboveT _c , peaks atT/T _c =1.15 ±0.05 and then drops quickly. This form of behaviour is shown to be the consequence of a second order phase transition. Dynamically it could arise because just aboveT _c , the low momentum states of the system are remnant massive modes rather than deconfined massless gluons.     

Application of the generalized Landau ansatz to second order phase transitions

The ansatz ofAmit et al. with expansion coefficients which can be nonanalytic functions of either the temperature or the order parameter is used to predict the generalized susceptibility (compressibility) and the surface tension belowT _c and the critical isotherm atT _c from the specific heat, the order parameter at the coexistence curve, and the coherence length. The results agree within 50% with experiments on different phase transitions in ferromagnets, classical gases, quantum gases, binary mixtures, and superfluid helium. The ansatz can be written in two different versions; their results differ only by logarithmic factors.     

Bose-Einstein condensation in one- and two-dimensional gases

We show that the one- and two-dimensional ideal Bose gases undergo a phase transition if the temperature is lowered at constant pressure. At the pressure-dependent transition temperature T_c (P) and in their thermodynamic limit the specific heat at constant pressure c_p and the particle densityn diverge, the entropyS and specific heat at constant volumec _v fall off sharply but continuously to zero, and the fraction of particles in the ground state N₀/N jumps discontinuously from zero to one. This Bose-Einstein condensation provides a remarkable example of a transition which has most of the properties of a second-order phase transition, except that the order parameter is discontinuous. The nature of the condensed state is described in the large but finiteN regime, and the width of the transition region is estimated. The effects of interactions in real one- and two-dimensional Bose systems and recent experiments on submonolayer helium films are discussed briefly.     

On the nature of the phase transition in the KDP systems

Using the Landau theory of phase transitions it has been shown that for a second order phase transition Ω/k_BT_c ? 0.01. and its isomorphs 4Ω/J¹ ? 1 and for a first order transition Ω/k_BT_c ? 0.01.     

Phase separation of binary systems

In this paper, three physical predictions on the phase separation of binary systems are derived based on a dynamic transition theory developed recently by the authors. First, the order of phase transitions is precisely determined by the sign of a nondimensional parameter K such that if K>0, the transition is first order with latent heat and if K<0, the transition is second order. Here the parameter K is defined in terms of the coefficients in the quadratic and cubic nonlinear terms of the Cahn-Hilliard equation and the typical length scale of the container. Second, a phase diagram is derived, characterizing the order of phase transitions, and leading in particular to a prediction that there is only a second-order transition for molar fraction near 1/2. This is different from the prediction made by the classical phase diagram. Third, a TL-phase diagram is derived, characterizing the regions of both homogeneous and separation phases and their transitions.     

Structural and magnetic phase transitions in CoxNi1−xMnGe system under pressure

The interaction of magnetic (T_c) an first-order distortion-type structural (T_D) transitions in the Co_xNi_1?xMnGe system was investigated using an ac susceptibility method under hydrostatic pressure up to 1.3 GPa. For all compositions T_C increases and T_D decreases with pressure. At the first triple point (0.3–0.6 GPa depending on x) these transitions go through a simultaneous magnetic-structural transition, as observed by Anzai and Ozawa in NiMnGe. However, for the composition x = 5, at the second triple point (at 0.8 GPa) the magnetic transition separates from the structural one, with T_C greater than T_D. This appears to be the first example of physically different, first and second-order phase transitions merging at a particular value of an external parameter, i.e. pressure P_TR1 and decoupling again at P_TR2 > P_T1. The (P, T) phase diagrams and the nature of the triple points are discussed using a simple Landau-type theory     

The origin of the pseudogap phase: precursor superconductivity versus a competing energy gap scenario

In the last few years evidence has been accumulating that there are a multiplicity of energy scales which characterize superconductivity in the underdoped cuprates. In contrast to the situation in BCS superconductors, the phase coherence temperature T_c is different from the energy gap onset temperature T^∗. In addition, thermodynamic and tunneling spectroscopies have led to the inference that the order parameter Δ_sc is to be distinguished from the excitation gap Δ; in this way, pseudogap effects persist below T_c. It has been argued by many in the community that the presence of these distinct energy scales demonstrates that the pseudogap is unrelated to superconductivity. In this paper, we show that this inference is incorrect. We demonstrate that the difference between the order parameter and excitation gap and the contrasting dependences of T^∗ and T_c on hole concentration x and magnetic field H follow from a natural generalization of BCS theory. This simple generalized form is based on a BCS-like ground state, but with self-consistently determined chemical potential in the presence of arbitrary attractive coupling g. We have applied this mean field theory with some success to tunneling, transport, thermodynamics, and magnetic field effects. We contrast the present approach with the phase fluctuation scenario and discuss key features which might distinguish our precursor superconductivity picture from that involving a competing order parameter.     

Spin-pair correlations of the classical Heisenberg ferromagnet above and below the critical point: Results of self-consistent Monte Carlo calculations

The spin-pair correlation functions of the classical Heisenberg ferromagnet with simple cubic lattice have been calculated in the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic temperature range using the self-consistent Monte Carlo method. The results agree with high-temperature series expansions aboveT _c , for low temperatures with spin-wave theory. By two different approaches the divergence of the ferromagnetic homogeneous susceptibility in zero field throughout the ferromagnetic temperature range could be verified. The functional dependence of the static susceptibilityχ _T (k) upon the inverse correlation lengthκ ₁ is discussed above and belowT _c and a Fourier transform for the explicit dependence of the spin correlations upon correlation length belowT _c is given. According to these results the scaling assumptionv=v′ for the exponents of the correlation length in the critical region is consistent with a divergent ferromagnetic susceptibility.     

Two-dimensional and layered structures in the discrete φ4 model

The properties of phase transitions in two-dimensional and layered systems are investigated on the basis of a discrete φ⁴ model by numerical and analytical methods. The only parameter a of the discrete φ⁴ model determines the behavior of the system and makes it possible to investigate phase transitions ranging from transitions of the displacement type (a → +0) to order-disorder type (a → +∞). The behavior of a two-dimensional system is investigated in a wide range of values of the parameter a. The temperature dependences of the squared order parameter η²(T) and the phase transition temperature T _c as a function of the thickness N of the system are obtained for three characteristic values of the parameter a using the Monte Carlo method. The properties of phase transitions in the discrete φ⁴ model are investigated on the basis of the mean-field approximation and the independent-mode approximation. The results obtained in the numerical experiments are compared with the analytical approximations. It is shown that the mean-field approximation qualitatively describes the behavior of the phase-transition temperature T _c as a function of the thickness N of the system for a wide range of values of the parameter a, and the independent-mode approximation describes quantitatively, to within 5%, the results of the numerical simulation for small values of a.     

Richtungseffekte der Lichtausbeute von Anthrazen bei Beschü\ mit Protonen im Energiebereich 200–600 keV

The results of the three-dimensional liquid droplet model are compared with experiment and other phenomenological theories. The homogeneity assumption of the scaling laws holds both above and belowT _c , and various series expansions can be derived. But there is a nonanalyticity near the critical isotherm aboveT _c for fixed “field” μ?μ(p _c ,T); and liquid and gas are not symmetric about the critical isochore aboveT _c . Both results contradict the usual scaling assumptions and experiment. The equation of state is fixed if the density on the coexistence curve and the critical pressure are known. Therefore we can derive various relations between critical quantities. They are compared with experiment and the corresponding relations in the Vicentini-Missoni ansatz, the parametric representation, and the generalized Landau ansatz. The disagreement ranges from about 20% to one order of magnitude.     

High-resolution spectroscopy of HoFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal: a study of phase transitions

The transmission spectra of HoFe₃(BO₃) multiferroic single crystals are studied by optical Fourier-transform spectroscopy at temperatures of 1.7–423 K in polarized light in the spectral range 500–10 000 cm^–1 with a resolution up to 0.1 cm^–1. A new first-order structural phase transition close to the second-order transition is recorded at T_c = 360 K by the appearance of a new phonon mode at 976 cm^–1. The reasons for considerable differences in T_c for different samples of holmium ferroborate are discussed. By temperature variations in the spectra of the f–f transitions in the Ho³⁺ ion, we studied two magnetic phase transitions, namely, magnetic ordering into an easy-plane structure as a second-order phase transition at T_N = 39 K and spin reorientation from the ab plane to the c axis as a first-order phase transition at T_SR = 4.7 ± 0.2 K. It is shown that erbium impurity in a concentration of 1 at % decreases the spin-reorientation transition temperature to T_SR = 4.0 K.     

A phenomenological theory of possible sequences of ferrotoroidal phase transitions in boracites

A phenomenological theory of the sequence of two second-order phase transitions with close temperatures is considered; such transitions occur in the Ni-Br boracite. The thermodynamic potential is written as a function of polarization P _i, magnetization M _i, and toroidal moment T _i vectors and fields E _i and H _i; T _i is treated as an order parameter. It is assumed that only one coefficient of T _i ² passes through zero as T decreases. The possibility of a sequence of two proper ferrotoroidal phase transitions along the T ₁ and T ₂ components is demonstrated. Spontaneous T _i, P _i, and M _i vector values and equations for susceptibility tensors (dielectric χ _ij = dP _i/dE _j, magnetic k _ij = dM _i/dH _j, and magnetoelectric α_ij = dP _i/dH _j = dM _j/dE _i) were obtained for three phases. Some of these values have well-defined anomalies in the vicinity of transitions. All possible sequences of ferrotoroidal phase transitions in boracites are considered. Depending on two potential coefficient values, these sequences may consist of one, two, or three such transitions.     

Phase transition and dielectric properties of Li2-x NaxGe4O9 crystals (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3)

The dielectric nonlinearity of ferroelectric Li_2-x Na_xGe₄O₉ crystals (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) is measured in the region of the phase transition temperatures. The ?(T) dependences for various values of the applied dc electric field E ₌ and the ?(E ₌)_T dependences at a constant temperature are studied in the Li_2-x Na_xGe₄O₉ crystals with T _c > 300 K and T _c < 300 K. It is shown that the Landau theory for second-order phase transitions describes the dielectric properties of the crystals with T _c < 300 K and does not describe the behavior of the crystals with T _c > 300 K. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that the different properties of the crystals with T _c > 300 K are likely to be related to the changed structure of these crystals caused by a change in the ratio between the Li and Na atoms.     

The Stückelberg holographic superconductors with Weyl corrections

In this Letter we construct the Stückelberg holographic superconductor with Weyl corrections. Under such corrections, the Weyl coupling parameter γ plays an important role in the order of phase transitions and the critical exponents of second order phase transitions. So do the model parameters cα, α and c₄. Moreover, we show that the Weyl coupling parameter γ and the model parameters cα, α, c₄ which together control the size and strength of the conductivity coherence peak and the ratio of gap frequency over critical temperature ωg/Tc.     

Phase structure and critical behavior of multi-Higgs U(1) lattice gauge theory in three dimensions

We study the three-dimensional (3D) compact U(1) lattice gauge theory coupled with N-flavor Higgs fields by means of the Monte Carlo simulations. This model is relevant to multi-component superconductors, antiferromagnetic spin systems in easy plane, inflational cosmology, etc. It is known that there is no phase transition in the N = 1 model. For N = 2, we found that the system has a second-order phase transition line in the c₂ (gauge coupling)-c₁ (Higgs coupling) plane, which separates the confinement phase and the Higgs phase. Numerical results suggest that the phase transition belongs to the universality class of the 3D XY model as the previous works by Babaev et al. and Smiseth et al. suggested. For N = 3, we found that there exists a critical line similar to that in the N = 2 model, but the critical line is separated into two parts; one for c₂<c_2tc=2.4±0.1 with first-order transitions, and the other for c_2tc<c₂ with second-order transitions, indicating the existence of a tricritical point. We verified that similar phase diagram appears for the N = 4 and N = 5 systems. We also studied the case of anistropic Higgs coupling in the N = 3 model and found that there appear two second-order phase transitions or a single second-order transition and a crossover depending on the values of the anisotropic Higgs couplings. This result indicates that an “enhancement” of phase transition occurs when multiple phase transitions coincide at a certain point in the parameter space.     

Specific heat of a transforming V3Si crystal

The specific heat of a transforming V₃Si crystal in the normal, mixed, and superconducting states has been measured from 6 to 30K in zero and 52.3 kG magnetic fields. An analysis has been carried out in a self-consistent way based on the second-order phase transition from the normal to the superconducting state in zero magnetic field. Various physical parameters characterizing the superconducting and normal states are derived from the thermodynamics and the BCS weak coupling theory. The most important parameter obtained in this analysis is 2Δ(0)/kT_c = 3.46, which indicates a weak coupling in our V₃Si sample.     

Thermal properties of He II according to a Landau-theory of phase transitions of second order

A special type of Landau theory of second order phase transitions allows the incorporation of spatial fluctuations of the order parameter in a consistent way. The resulting theory describes the thermal properties of He II nearT _λ in agreement with experiment.