TY - JOUR
T1 - Superconducting-gap-node spectroscopy using nonlinear electrodynamics
AU - Žutić, Igor
AU - Valls, Oriol T.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - We present a method to determine the nodal structure of the energy gap of unconventional superconductors such as high-(Formula presented) materials. We show how nonlinear electrodynamics phenomena in the Meissner regime, arising from the presence of lines on the Fermi surface where the superconducting energy gap is very small or zero, can be used to perform “node spectroscopy,” that is, as a sensitive bulk probe to locate the angular position of those lines. In calculating the nonlinear supercurrent response, we include the effects of orthorhombic distortion and (Formula presented)-(Formula presented) plane anisotropy. Analytic results presented demonstrate a systematic way to experimentally distinguish order parameters of different symmetries, including cases with mixed symmetry (for example, (Formula presented) and (Formula presented). We consider, as suggested by various experiments, order parameters with predominantly (Formula presented)-wave character, and describe how to determine the possible presence of other symmetries. The nonlinear magnetic moment displays a distinct behavior if nodes in the gap are absent but regions with small finite values of the energy gap exist.
AB - We present a method to determine the nodal structure of the energy gap of unconventional superconductors such as high-(Formula presented) materials. We show how nonlinear electrodynamics phenomena in the Meissner regime, arising from the presence of lines on the Fermi surface where the superconducting energy gap is very small or zero, can be used to perform “node spectroscopy,” that is, as a sensitive bulk probe to locate the angular position of those lines. In calculating the nonlinear supercurrent response, we include the effects of orthorhombic distortion and (Formula presented)-(Formula presented) plane anisotropy. Analytic results presented demonstrate a systematic way to experimentally distinguish order parameters of different symmetries, including cases with mixed symmetry (for example, (Formula presented) and (Formula presented). We consider, as suggested by various experiments, order parameters with predominantly (Formula presented)-wave character, and describe how to determine the possible presence of other symmetries. The nonlinear magnetic moment displays a distinct behavior if nodes in the gap are absent but regions with small finite values of the energy gap exist.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.56.11279
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.56.11279
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0000114011
SN - 2469-9950
VL - 56
SP - 11279
EP - 11293
JO - Physical Review B
JF - Physical Review B
IS - 17
ER -