Superconducting pairing and density-wave instabilities in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

Using a renormalization group approach, we determine the phase diagram of an extended quasi-one-dimensional electron gas model that includes interchain hopping, nesting deviations and both intrachain and interchain repulsive interactions. d-wave superconductivity, which dominates over the spin-density-wave (SDW) phase at large nesting deviations, becomes unstable to the benefit of a triplet $f$-wave phase for a weak repulsive interchain backscattering term $g_1^\perp>0$, despite the persistence of dominant SDW correlations in the normal state. Antiferromagnetism becomes unstable against the formation of a charge-density-wave state when $g_1^\perp$ exceeds some critical value. While these features persist when both Umklapp processes and interchain forward scattering ($g_2^\perp$) are taken into account, the effect of $g_2^\perp$ alone is found to frustrate nearest-neighbor interchain $d$- and $f$-wave pairing and instead favor next-nearest-neighbor interchain singlet or triplet pairing. We argue that the close proximity of SDW and charge-density-wave phases, singlet d-wave and triplet $f$-wave superconducting phases in the theoretical phase diagram provides a possible explanation for recent puzzling experimental findings in the Bechgaard salts, including the coexistence of SDW and charge-density-wave phases and the possibility of a triplet pairing in the superconducting phase.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure

CDW Ordering in Stripe Phase of Underdoped Cuprates

The in-plane resistivity and out-of-plane resistivity of non-superconducting RBCO (R = Y, Tm) and Fe-doped Bi2212 single crystals are discussed. The comparison of electrical transport properties of the cuprates and quasi-one dimensional (1D) (TMTSF)2PF6 organic conductor suggests that RBCO and Bi2212 exhibit 1D transport properties, and the step rise at low temperatures in the resistivities of the cuprates and quasi-1D organic conductor is due to charge-density-wave ordering. We discuss also phonon-electron interactions in cuprates at low temperatures.Comment: 10 pages including 4 figure

Superconductivity and Antiferromagnetism in Quasi-one-dimensional Organic Conductors

We review the current understanding of superconductivity in the quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors of the Bechgaard and Fabre salt families. We discuss the interplay between superconductivity, antiferromagnetism, and charge-density-wave fluctuations. The connection to recent experimental observations supporting unconventional pairing and the possibility of a triplet-spin order parameter for the superconducting phase is also presented.Comment: (v1) 30 pages, 13 figures; Review article for the 20th anniversary of high-Tc superconductivity, to appear in J. Low Temp. Phys. (v2) 1 Ref. adde

Variations spatiotemporelles des compartiments autotrophes et hétérotrophes de la boucle microbienne dans les lacs du sud du Québec

Les variations de la biomasse des compartiments autotrophes et hétérotrophes de la boucle microbienne ont été examinées dans neuf lacs de deux régions du sud du Québec. Six lacs étaient situés dans les Laurentides et trois lacs dans les Cantons de l'Est. Ils se différenciaient en fonction de leur statut trophique, de la géologie du bassin versant, et de la physicochimie des eaux. Dans chaque lac, l'échantillonnage a été réalisé à trois profondeurs correspondant aux strates épi-, méta- et hypolimnétiques et à cinq dates au cours de l'été (1990-1992). Les biomasses moyennes de picoplancton autotrophe (PPA : 16-80 µg·C·L-1), de picoplancton hétérotrophe (PPH : 97-647 µg·C·L-1), de nanoplancton autotrophe (NPA : 7-37 µg·C·L-1) et de nanoplancton hétérotrophe (NPH : 9-29 µg·C·L-1) notées dans les lacs du sud du Québec le long d'un gradient trophique de PT variant de 7 à 73 µg·L-1 étaient du même ordre de grandeur que celles rapportées pour d'autres écosystèmes d'eau douce au Canada.La majeure partie de la variation dans les biomasses des compartiments microbiens étaient reliée aux variations inter-lacs mais il existaient aussi des sources de variation significatives au sein des lacs, soit au niveau spatial entre les strates limnétiques ou au niveau temporel entre les dates d'échantillonnage durant l'été. Toutefois, les patrons de variation spatiotemporelle intra-lac variaient d'un lac à l'autre. Les variations inter-lacs de la biomasse des quatre compartiments microbiens ont été mises en relation avec les changements dans les concentrations de phosphore total (PT) et dans les densités de macrozooplancton. Le niveau trophique des lacs, exprimés en PT, et l'abondance du macrozooplancton avaient un effet sur les biomasses des compartiments picoplanctoniques. La biomasse de PPA et PPH décroissait dans les lacs eutrophes des Cantons de l'Est ayant des concentrations de PT supérieures à 20 µg·L-1 et dans les lacs ayant de fortes densités de macrozooplancton ou un faible rapport micro-macrozooplancton. Notre étude n'a pas mis clairement en évidence les effets du niveau trophique ou du macrozoopancton sur les compartiments nanoplanctoniques (NPA, NPH).The biomass of autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial compartments were measured in nine lakes in two regions of southern Quebec. Six lakes were located in the Laurentides while three lakes were situated in the Eastern Townships. They varied in trophic status, watershed geology, and water chemistry. Each lake was sampled at three depths, corresponding to the epi-, meta-, and hypolimnion strata, and at five dates over the summer season (1991-1992). The mean biomass of autotrophic picoplankton (PPA: 16-80 µg·C·L-1), heterotrophic picoplankton (PPH: 97-647 µg·C·L-1), autotrophic nanoplankton (NPA: 7-37 µg·C·L-1), and heterotrophic nanoplankton (NPH: 9-29 µg·C·L-1) found in Quebec lakes over a PT range of trophy varying from 7 to 73 µg·L-1 were of the same order as those reported in other freshwater environments in Canada.Most of the variation in the biomass of the four microbial compartments was related to among-lake variation. Some variation was also due to within-lake spatial variation among limnetic strata or temporal variation over the summer season. However, within-lake patterns of variation patterns were different among lakes. Among-lake variations in the biomass of the four microbial compartments were examined in relation to changes in total phosphorus concentrations (PT) and macrozooplankton densities between lakes. Both lake trophy, expressed by PT, and macrozooplankton abundance influence the biomass of picoplankton compartments. The biomass of PPA and PPH decline in the most eutrophic lakes of the Eastern Townships where PT > 20 µg·L-1. PPA and PPH biomass were also reduced in lakes with the highest density of macrozooplankton or with low micro-/macrozooplankton ratio. Our study did not clearly detected the effects of lake trophy or macrozooplankton on nanoplanktonic compartments

Renormalization Group calculations with k|| dependent couplings in a ladder

We calculate the phase diagram of a ladder system, with a Hubbard interaction and an interchain coupling $t_\perp$. We use a Renormalization Group method, in a one loop expansion, introducing an original method to include $k_{||}$ dependence of couplings. We also classify the order parameters corresponding to ladder instabilities. We obtain different results, depending on whether we include $k_{||}$ dependence or not. When we do so, we observe a region with large antiferromagnetic fluctuations, in the vicinity of small $t_\perp$, followed by a superconducting region with a simultaneous divergence of the Spin Density Waves channel. We also investigate the effect of a non local backward interchain scattering : we observe, on one hand, the suppression of singlet superconductivity and of Spin Density Waves, and, on the other hand, the increase of Charge Density Waves and, for some values of $t_\perp$, of triplet superconductivity. Our results eventually show that $k_{||}$ is an influential variable in the Renormalization Group flow, for this kind of systems.Comment: 20 pages, 19 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. B 71 v. 2

Triplet superconducting pairing and density-wave instabilities in organic conductors

Using a renormalization group approach, we determine the phase diagram of an extended quasi-one-dimensional electron gas model that includes interchain hopping, nesting deviations and both intrachain and interchain repulsive interactions. We find a close proximity of spin-density- and charge-density-wave phases, singlet d-wave and triplet f-wave superconducting phases. There is a striking correspondence between our results and recent puzzling experimental findings in the Bechgaard salts, including the coexistence of spin-density-wave and charge-density-wave phases and the possibility of a triplet pairing in the superconducting phase.Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figure

A Renormalization group approach for highly anisotropic 2D Fermion systems: application to coupled Hubbard chains

I apply a two-step density-matrix renormalization group method to the anisotropic two-dimensional Hubbard model. As a prelude to this study, I compare the numerical results to the exact one for the tight-binding model. I find a ground-state energy which agrees with the exact value up to four digits for systems as large as $24 \times 25$. I then apply the method to the interacting case. I find that for strong Hubbard interaction, the ground-state is dominated by magnetic correlations. These correlations are robust even in the presence of strong frustration. Interchain pair tunneling is negligible in the singlet and triplet channels and it is not enhanced by frustration. For weak Hubbard couplings, interchain non-local singlet pair tunneling is enhanced and magnetic correlations are strongly reduced. This suggests a possible superconductive ground state.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures, expanded version of cond-mat/060856

Towards a consistent picture for quasi-1D organic superconductors

The electrical resistivity of the quasi-1D organic superconductor (TMTSF)2PF6 was recently measured at low temperature from the critical pressure needed to suppress the spin-density-wave state up to a pressure where superconductivity has almost disappeared. This data revealed a direct correlation between the onset of superconductivity at Tc and the strength of a non-Fermi-liquid linear term in the normal-state resistivity, going as r(T) = r0 + AT + BT2 at low temperature, so that A goes to 0 as Tc goes to 0. Here we show that the contribution of low-frequency antiferromagnetic fluctuations to the spin-lattice relaxation rate is also correlated with this non-Fermi-liquid term AT in the resistivity. These correlations suggest that anomalous scattering and pairing have a common origin, both rooted in the low-frequency antiferromagnetic fluctuations measured by NMR. A similar situation may also prevail in the recently-discovered iron-pnictide superconductors.Comment: ISCOM'09 proceedings to be published in Physica

Superconductivity and antiferromagnetism in quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors (Review Article)

We review the current understanding of superconductivity in the quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors of the Bechgaard and Fabre salt families. We discuss the interplay between superconductivity, antiferromagnetism, and charge-density-wave fluctuations. The connection to recent experimental observations supporting unconventional pairing and the possibility of a triplet–spin order parameter for the superconducting phase is also presented

Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell state in quasi-one-dimensional superconductors

The properties of a quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) superconductor with {\it an open Fermi surface} are expected to be unusual in a magnetic field. On the one hand, the quasi-1D structure of the Fermi surface strongly favors the formation of a non-uniform state (Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell (LOFF) state) in the presence of a magnetic field acting on the electron spins. On the other hand, a magnetic field acting on an open Fermi surface induces a dimensional crossover by confining the electronic wave-functions wave-functions along the chains of highest conductivity, which results in a divergence of the orbital critical field and in a stabilization at low temperature of a cascade of superconducting phases separated by first order transistions. In this paper, we study the phase diagram as a function of the anisotropy. We discuss in details the experimental situation in the quasi-1D organic conductors of the Bechgaard salts family and argue that they appear as good candidates for the observation of the LOFF state, provided that their anisotropy is large enough. Recent experiments on the organic quasi-1D superconductor (TMTSF)$_2$ClO$_4$ are in agreement with the results obtained in this paper and could be interpreted as a signature of a high-field superconducting phase. We also point out the possibility to observe a LOFF state in some quasi-2D organic superconductors.Comment: 24 pages+17 figures (upon request), RevTex, ORSAY-LPS-24109