Theory and experimental evidence for superconductors with short coherence length

We sketch the theory of London superconductors with a complex order parameter undergoing a phase transition dominated by thermal fluctuations. This theory is essentially that of superfluid helium, appropriately modified. We derive relations between the transition temperatureT _c , the London penetration depth, the phase correlation length, the fall ofT _c with reduced thickness in thin slabs and the associated appearance of Kosterlitz-Thouless behavior. AtH _c2 thermal fluctuations drive the transition first order. Accordingly, magnetic properties will exhibit hysteresis phenomena and glassy behavior. Our analysis of recent specific heat and SR measurements and of experiments on ultrathin slabs as well as the experimental evidence for hysteresis phenomena and glassy behavior in magnetic properties reveal that this theory describes a large class of superconductors that encompasses the cuprates, bismuthates and fullerenes.     

Effect of paramagnetic fluctuations on superconductivity in ferromagnetic superconductors

The superconducting transition temperature T_c is calculated for ferromagnetic superconductors taking into account explicitly elastic scattering between electrons and paramagnetic fluctuations. Depending on the strength and range of the Heisenberg interaction between localized magnetic moments, the superconducting gap may or may not remain finite at the onset of long range ferromagnetic ordering. In a dirty system, the mean free path reduces the depairing effect of fluctuations. The Heisenberg interaction is assumed to be of other than RKKY origin.     

Lifshitz-point behaviour of ferromagnetic superconductors

The critical behaviour of the electromagnetically coupled superconductor magnet system is investigated by means of a generalized mean field theory and a renormalization group analysis. We show that in the presence of a genuine anisotropy in systems with an additional pressure-like parameter (like concentration in pseudo-ternary ferromagnetic superconductors (FMS), e.g. Er_1?x Ho _x Rh₄B₄) the indirect coupling between superconducting and magnetic order parameters (i.e. gauge coupling) can lead to a peculiar kind of critical behaviour characterized by Lifshitz points (LP). These points (quite generally) occur as merging points of three phases: a (magnetically) disordered phase, a homogeneously ordered phase and a modulated phase. In FMS the latter phase may result from exchange screening by supercurrents. This unusual critical behaviour is found in two varieties:

1. a regular LP which may occur on the lower transition line of a reentrant FMS
2. a similar but slightly different critical point which we term modified Lifshitz point (MLP), and which is to be expected at the merging point of the upper and lower superconducting transition lines with the magnetic order disorder transition lines in the (x, T) phase diagrams of FMS's.

     

On a quantum theory of superconducting glasses and other impure superconducting phases

We review and extend a previous electronic mean field theory of superconducting glass phases. These phases are defined by vanishing ensemble averaged BCS-order parameter and non-vanishing Edwards-Anderson type averages of the inhomogeneous superconducting order parameter. Solutions are worked out for the replica symmetric case, but the possibility of replica symmetry breaking and hence ergodicity breaking is also discussed in the field theory. The order parameter for Ising-like, anisotropic and isotropicXY-like superconducting glass phases are identified by their spontaneous symmetry breaking effect in the action of the discorder ensemble. The isotropicXY-like phase is found to allow superconductivity in arbitrary strong magnetic fields. Generally the results show that: the occurrence of superconducting glass phases is supported by strong local attractive electron-electron coupling together with a high probability of nonsuper-conducting areas, the vicinity of a metal-insulator transition or the presence of a magnetic field. We suggest that for strong coupling the theory is applicable to HighT _c superconductors like Ba–La–Cu–O.A first result beyond mean field approximation displays at one loop order quantum fluctuation contributions to the density of states in the superconducting glass phases. We suggest that these phases may show an infinite nonlinear dc conductivity in higher order response.Dedicated to Professor Harry Thomas on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Anomalous properties of thin films of ferromagnetic superconductors

Anomalous magnetic and superconducting behavior which originates from the electromagnetic interaction between the persistent current and the rare earth magnetic moments is theoretically predicted in thin films of ferromagnetic superconductors. It is shown that the ferromagnetic ordering can coexist with superconductivity for films of thickness smaller than the London penetration depth. The ferromagnetic phase transition is of the second order and its critical temperature depends on the thickness of the film.     

Thermal fluctuations in high-temperature superconductors

The effect of fluctuations and anisotropy on the transition from the normal to the superconducting state are studied. Neglecting magnetic fluctuations, which is justified as long as the Ginzburg-Landau parameter 1, the critical behavior belongs to thexy-universality class including superfluid helium. Since (t)=₀ t ^2/3, wheret=1-T/T _c , upon approachingT _c further, the intrinsic fluctuating magnetic field might change the nature of the transition. Concentrating on thexy-regime, we derive with the aid of the helicity modulus a universal relation betweenT _c and the amplitudes of the phase correlation length and penetration depth. We also extend the universal critical point amplitude relations to the case of superconductors with uniaxial mass anisotropy. Our analysis of recent specific heat and excess dc conductivity measurement suggest that for both static and dynamic properties three-dimensional critical behavior has been observed. The -like specific heat singularity points to criticalxy-behavior. Further evidence is provided in terms of the universal amplitude relations, providing estimates for the amplitudes of the correlation lengths for the magnitude and phase of the order parameter and the London penetration depth. We find remarkable agreement with experiment and the correlation volume is comparable to that in superfluid helium.     

Ferromagnet–superconductor hybrids

The new class of phenomena described in this review is based on the interaction between spatially separated, but closely located ferromagnets and superconductors, the so-called ferromagnet–superconductor hybrids (FSH). Typical FSH are: coupled uniform and textured ferromagnetic and superconducting films, magnetic dots over a superconducting film, magnetic nanowires in a superconducting matrix, etc. The interaction is provided by the magnetic field generated by magnetic textures and supercurrents. The magnetic flux from magnetic structures or topological defects can pin vortices or create them, changing the transport properties and transition temperature of the superconductor. On the other hand, the magnetic field from supercurrents (vortices) strongly interacts with the magnetic subsystem, leading to formation of coupled magnetic–superconducting topological defects.

The proximity of ferromagnetic layer dramatically changes the properties of the superconducting film. The exchange field in ferromagnets not only suppresses the Cooper-pair wavefunction, but also leads to its oscillations, which in turn leads to oscillations of observable values: the transition temperature and Josephson current. In particular, in the ground state of the Josephson junction the relative phase of two superconductors separated by a layer of ferromagnetic metal is equal to?π?instead of the usual zero (the so-called π-junction). Such a junction carries a spontaneous supercurrent and possesses other unusual properties. Theory predicts that rotation of magnetization transforms s-pairing into p-pairing. The latter is not suppressed by the exchange field and serves as a carrier of long-range interaction between superconductors.     

Superconductivity in the pseudogap state in the hot spot model: The influence of impurities and the phase diagram

We analyze the peculiarities of the superconducting state (s- and d-wave paring) in the model of the pseudogap state induced by Heisenberg antiferromagnetic short-range order spin fluctuations. The model is based on the pattern of strong scattering near hot spots at the Fermi surface. The analysis is based on the microscopic derivation of the Ginzburg-Landau expansion with the inclusion of all Feynman diagrams of perturbation theory for the interaction of an electron with short-range order fluctuations and in the ladder approximation for the scattering by normal (nonmagnetic) impurities. We determine the dependence of the critical superconducting transition temperature and other superconductor characteristics on the pseudogap parameters and the degree of impurity scattering. We show that the characteristic shape of the phase diagram for high-temperature superconductors can be explained in terms of the model under consideration.     

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism theoretical predictions and experimental results

Superconductivity and ferromagnetic ordering are two antagonistic types of ordering, and their mutual influence leads to many interesting phenomena which have been studied recently in ternary compounds. Theoretical analysis of ferromagnetic materials which are type II superconductors near the superconducting transition point T _cl shows that they become type I near the magnetic transition point T _M. The proposed theory constructed for the case T _M « T _cl predicts the formation of a transverse domain-like (DS phase) magnetic structure below T _M. The electronic spectrum appears to be gapless in the DS phase of clean compounds with a re-entrant transition. The change from type II to type I behaviour as the sample is cooled to T _M has been observed in ErRh₄B₄. Experimental data for HoMo₆S₈, HoMo₆Se₈ and ErRh₄B₄ give evidence for the coexistence of super-conductivity and non-uniform magnetic ordering below T _M. Mutual influence of superconducting and magnetic orderings is also studied.     

Study on the competition between density waves, singlet, and triplet pairing superconductivity in organic conductors (TMTSF)2X

We study the effect of dimerization of TMTSF molecules and the effect of magnetic field (Zeeman splitting) on the phase competition in quasi one-dimensional organic superconductors (TMTSF)₂X by applying the random phase approximation method. As for the dimerization effect, we conclude that due to the decrease of the dimerization, which corresponds to applying the pressure and cooling, spin and charge density wave states are suppressed and give way to a superconducting state. As for the magnetic field effect, we find generally that spin-triplet pairing mediated by a coexistence of 2k_F spin and 2k_F charge fluctuations can be strongly enhanced by applying magnetic field rather than triplet pairing due to a ferromagnetic spin fluctuations. Applying the above idea to (TMTSF)₂X compounds, a magnetic field induced singlet-triplet transition is consistent with above mechanism in (TMTSF)₂ClO₄.     

Visualization of the magnetic flux structure in phosphorus-doped EuFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals

Magnetic flux structure on the surface of EuFe₂(As_1-x P _x )₂ single crystals with nearly optimal phosphorus doping levels x = 0.20 and x = 0.21 is studied by low-temperature magnetic force microscopy and decoration with ferromagnetic nanoparticles. The studies are performed in a broad temperature range. It is shown that the single crystal with x = 0.21 in the temperature range between the critical temperatures T _SC= 22 K and T _C = (18 ± 0.3) K of the superconducting and ferromagnetic phase transitions, respectively, has the vortex structure of a frozen magnetic flux, typical for type-II superconductors. The magnetic domain structure is observed in the superconducting state below T _C. The nature of this structure is discussed.     

Electronic structure and magnetic phase transition in MnSi

Temperature variations of the amplitude of zero-point and thermal spin fluctuations in a helicoidal ferromagnetic (MnSi) are characterized using the electronic structure model that follows from ab initio LDA + U + SO calculations. It is found that a drastic reduction in the amplitude of zero-point spin fluctuations at temperature T _S (in the vicinity of the magnetic phase transition) leads to ferromagnetic solution instability (a change in the sign of the intermode interaction parameter). The observed magnetovolume effect and a sharp change in the radius of spin correlations have the same underlying cause. The results of calculation of the volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion agree well with the observed anomaly in the region of the magnetic phase transition.     

Phase transitions in a MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript> granular BCS superconductor in weak magnetic fields

The character of temperature dependences of the electric conductivity of MgB₂ granular BCS superconductors at temperatures of ~35–45 K in external magnetic fields H _ext of up to ~2 kOe is studied. An increase in the superconducting transition width ΔT _c with an increase in Hext is found. The presence of a system of weak links in MgB₂-based granular superconductors is established. On the basis of experimental data, MgB₂ granular superconductor is assigned to two-level superconducting systems and the H–T phase diagram is constructed.     

Superconductivity on the localization threshold and magnetic-field-tuned superconductor-insulator transition in TiN films

Temperature-and magnetic-field-dependent measurements of the resistance of ultrathin superconducting TiN films are presented. The analysis of the temperature dependence of the zero-field resistance indicates an underlying insulating behavior, when the contribution of Aslamazov-Larkin fluctuations is taken into account. This demonstrates the possibility of the coexistence of the superconducting and insulating phases and of a direct transition from the one to the other. The scaling behavior of magnetic field data is in accordance with a superconductor-insulator transition (SIT) driven by quantum phase fluctuations in two-dimensional superconductor. The temperature dependence of the isomagnetic resistance data on the high-field side of the SIT has been analyzed, and the presence of an insulating phase is confirmed. A transition from the insulating to a metallic phase is found at high magnetic fields, where the zero-temperature asymptotic value of the resistance is equal to h/e².     

Screening properties of multiply connected ferromagnet–superconductor hybrid structures

Superconducting phase transition temperature T _c of a ferromagnet/superconductor (SF) hybrid structure consisting of a hollow superconducting (S) cylinder (shell) with the central part (core) filled with a ferromagnetic (F) metal has been analyzed on the basis of linearized Usadel equations. It has been shown that the proximity effect between the S and F metals, as well as the exchange interaction, may induce an inhomogeneous superconducting state with Δ ~ exp(iLθ + ipz), which is characterized by nonzero circulation of phase L and wavenumber p describing the Larkin–Ovchinnikov–Fulde–Ferrell (LOFF) instability along the cylinder axis. The transitions between the states with different values of L and p, which are accompanied by a nonmonotonic dependence of superconducting transition temperature T _c and effective magnetic field penetration depth Λ into the SF structure on the characteristic size of the ferromagnetic region, have been investigated.     

The vortex-like excitations detected by Nernst signals in high-Tc superconductors

The nature of the pseudogap state and its relation to the d-wave superconductivity in high-T _c superconductors is still an open issue. The vortex-like excitations detected by the Nernst effect measurements exist in a certain temperature range above superconducting transition temperature T _c, which strongly support that the pseudogap phase is characterized by finite pairing amplitude with strong phase fluctuations and imply that the phase transition at T _c is driven by the loss of long-range phase coherence. We first briefly introduce the electronic phase diagram and pseudogap state of high-T _c superconductors, and then review the results of Nernst effect for different high-T _c superconductors. Related theoretical models are also discussed.     

Low-temperature properties of the Ce(Pd1−xNix) system

The influence of substituting Pd by Ni is described in Ce(Pd_1-xNi_x)₃ alloys with x taken up to about 0.25. Thermal and magnetization measurements point out a transition from a non-magnetic state (CePd₃) to a ferromagnetic state for x > 0.05, with a Curie temperature K. The Ce-L_2,3 absorption edges and magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study reveals the coexistence of strong 4f hybridization and ferromagnetic order. The Ce-L_2,3 XMCD signal measured in CePd₃ demonstrates that in the Ce-based dense Kondo materials only the 4f¹ channel gives a magnetic response.Received: 2 September 2003, Published online: 15 March 2004PACS: 75.20.Hr Local moment in compounds and alloys; Kondo effect, valence fluctuations, heavy fermions - 75.30.Mb Valence fluctuation, Kondo lattice, and heavy-fermion phenomena - 71.10.Hf Non-Fermi-liquid ground states, electron phase diagrams and phase transitions in model systems     

新超导体MgCNi3的虚晶掺杂研究

用全势线性缀加平面波方法,考虑局域自旋密度近似研究虚晶掺杂MgCNi₃的超导电性和磁性.计算了自旋极化能带结构、体弹性模量和它对压力的导数、原子磁矩m及其变化率.计算结果表明，对于电子掺杂的Mg_1-xAl_xCNi₃(0≤x≤0.5)，超导电性和磁涨落随掺杂量的增加逐渐减小.空穴掺杂的Mg_1-xNa_xCNi₃,在x＝0.12处出现铁磁相变，超导电性消失.在MgCNi₃少量空穴掺杂区域(0≤x<0.12)，表现为超导与磁涨落共存的不稳定状态. 关键词： 超导电性 能带结构 态密度 磁性     

Superconductivity in the pseudogap state in the hot-spot model: Ginzburg-Landau expansion

Peculiarities of the superconducting state (s and d pairing) are considered in the model of the pseudogap state induced by short-range order fluctuations of the dielectric (AFM (SDW) or CDW) type, which is based on the model of the Fermi surface with “hot spots.” A microscopic derivation of the Ginzburg-Landau expansion is given with allowance for all Feynman diagrams in perturbation theory in the electron interaction with short-range order fluctuations responsible for strong scattering in the vicinity of hot spots. The superconducting transition temperature is determined as a function of the effective pseudogap width and the correlation length of short-range order fluctuations. Similar dependences are derived for the main parameters of a superconductor in the vicinity of the superconducting transition temperature. It is shown, in particular, that the specific heat jump at the transition point is considerably suppressed upon a transition to the pseudogap region on the phase diagram.