Josephson lattice model for phase fluctuations of local pairs in copper-oxide superconductors

We derive an expression for the effective Josephson coupling from the microscopic Hubbard model. It serves as a starting point for the description of phase fluctuations of local Cooper pairs in $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave superconductors in the framework of an effective $XY$ model of plaquettes, the Josephson lattice. The expression for the effective interaction is derived by means of the local-force theorem, and it depends on local symmetry-broken correlation functions that we obtain using the cluster dynamical mean-field theory. Moreover, we apply the continuum limit to the Josephson lattice to obtain an expression for the gradient term in the Ginzburg-Landau theory and compare predicted London penetration depths and Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperatures with experimental data for YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-x}$.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figure

Coherence length and penetration depth in strongly correlated superconductors

Superconductivity emerges from the spatial coherence of a macroscopic condensate characterized by two intrinsic length scales: the coherence length $\xi_0$ and the London penetration depth $\lambda_{\mathrm{L}}$. While their description is well established in weak-coupling Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory and Eliashberg theory, $\xi_0$ and $\lambda_{\mathrm{L}}$ are generally unknown quantities in strongly correlated superconductors. In this work, we establish a framework to calculate these length scales in microscopic theories and from first principles. Central to this idea are Nambu-Gor'kov Green functions under a constraint of finite-momentum pairing and their analysis with respect to the superconducting order parameter and resultant supercurrents. We illustrate with a multi-orbital model of alkali-doped fullerides (A$_3$C$_{60}$) using Dynamical Mean-Field Theory (DMFT) how proximity of superconductivity, Jahn-Teller metallic, and Mott-localized states impact superconducting coherence, order parameter stiffness, and critical temperature. Our analysis reveals a "localized" superconducting regime with robustly short $\xi_0$. Multi-orbital effects cause a domeless rise in the critical temperature as the pairing interaction is increased, setting this system apart from the BCS to Bose-Einstein-Condensate (BEC) crossover phenomenology.Comment: main: 12 pages, 3 figures | SM: 19, 6 figure

Dual fermion method as a prototype of generic reference-system approach for correlated fermions

We present a purely diagrammatic derivation of the dual fermion scheme [Phys. Rev. B 77 (2008) 033101]. The derivation makes particularly clear that a similar scheme can be developed for an arbitrary reference system provided it has the same interaction term as the original system. Thereby no restrictions are imposed by the locality of the reference problem or by the nature of the original problem as a lattice one. We present new arguments in favour of keeping the dual denominator in the expression for the lattice self-energy independently of the truncation of the dual interaction. As an example we present the computational results for the half-filled 2D Hubbard model with the choice of a $2\times2$ plaquette with periodic boundary conditions as a reference system. We observe that obtained results are in a good agreement with numerically exact lattice quantum Monte Carlo data

Detection of internal fields in double-metal terahertz resonators

Terahertz (THz) double-metal plasmonic resonators enable enhanced light-matter coupling by exploiting strong field confinement. The double-metal design however restricts access to the internal fields. We propose and demonstrate a method for spatial mapping and spectroscopic analysis of the internal electromagnetic fields in double-metal plasmonic resonators. We use the concept of image charges and aperture-type scanning near-field THz time-domain microscopy to probe the fields confined within the closed resonator. The experimental method opens doors to studies of light-matter coupling in deeply sub-wavelength volumes at THz frequencies

Detecting quantum critical points in the t-t ' Fermi-Hubbard model via complex network theory

A considerable success in phenomenological description of high-Tc superconductors has been achieved within the paradigm of Quantum Critical Point (QCP)-a parental state of a variety of exotic phases that is characterized by dense entanglement and absence of well-defined quasiparticles. However, the microscopic origin of the critical regime in real materials remains an open question. On the other hand, there is a popular view that a single-band t-t ' Hubbard model is the minimal model to catch the main relevant physics of superconducting compounds. Here, we suggest that emergence of the QCP is tightly connected with entanglement in real space and identify its location on the phase diagram of the hole-doped t-t ' Hubbard model. To detect the QCP we study a weighted graph of inter-site quantum mutual information within a four-by-four plaquette that is solved by exact diagonalization. We demonstrate that some quantitative characteristics of such a graph, viewed as a complex network, exhibit peculiar behavior around a certain submanifold in the parametric space of the model. This method allows us to overcome difficulties caused by finite size effects and to identify precursors of the transition point even on a small lattice, where long-range asymptotics of correlation functions cannot be accessed

Degenerate plaquette physics as key ingredient of high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates

We study the physics of high-temperature cuprate superconductors starting from the highly degenerate four-site plaquette of the t− t′− U Hubbard model as a reference system. The degeneracy causes strong fluctuations when a lattice of plaquettes is constructed. We show that there is a large binding energy between holes when a set of four plaquettes is considered. The next-nearest-neighbour hopping t′ plays a crucial role in the formation of these strongly bound electronic bipolarons whose coherence at lower temperature could be the explanation for superconductivity. A complementary approach is cluster dual fermion starting from a single degenerate plaquette, which contains the relevant short-ranged fluctuations from the beginning. It gives d-wave superconductivity as the leading instability under a reasonably broad range of parameters. The origin of the pseudogap is also discussed in terms of the coupling of degenerate plaquettes. Thus, some of the essential elements of cuprate superconductivity appear from the local plaquette physics

Management of coronary disease in patients with advanced kidney disease

BACKGROUND Clinical trials that have assessed the effect of revascularization in patients with stable coronary disease have routinely excluded those with advanced chronic kidney disease. METHODS We randomly assigned 777 patients with advanced kidney disease and moderate or severe ischemia on stress testing to be treated with an initial invasive strategy consisting of coronary angiography and revascularization (if appropriate) added to medical therapy or an initial conservative strategy consisting of medical therapy alone and angiography reserved for those in whom medical therapy had failed. The primary outcome was a composite of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. A key secondary outcome was a composite of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure, or resuscitated cardiac arrest. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 2.2 years, a primary outcome event had occurred in 123 patients in the invasive-strategy group and in 129 patients in the conservative-strategy group (estimated 3-year event rate, 36.4% vs. 36.7%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79 to 1.29; P=0.95). Results for the key secondary outcome were similar (38.5% vs. 39.7%; hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.29). The invasive strategy was associated with a higher incidence of stroke than the conservative strategy (hazard ratio, 3.76; 95% CI, 1.52 to 9.32; P=0.004) and with a higher incidence of death or initiation of dialysis (hazard ratio, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.11; P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS Among patients with stable coronary disease, advanced chronic kidney disease, and moderate or severe ischemia, we did not find evidence that an initial invasive strategy, as compared with an initial conservative strategy, reduced the risk of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction

Health status after invasive or conservative care in coronary and advanced kidney disease

BACKGROUND In the ISCHEMIA-CKD trial, the primary analysis showed no significant difference in the risk of death or myocardial infarction with initial angiography and revascularization plus guideline-based medical therapy (invasive strategy) as compared with guideline-based medical therapy alone (conservative strategy) in participants with stable ischemic heart disease, moderate or severe ischemia, and advanced chronic kidney disease (an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <30 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 or receipt of dialysis). A secondary objective of the trial was to assess angina-related health status. METHODS We assessed health status with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) before randomization and at 1.5, 3, and 6 months and every 6 months thereafter. The primary outcome of this analysis was the SAQ Summary score (ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating less frequent angina and better function and quality of life). Mixed-effects cumulative probability models within a Bayesian framework were used to estimate the treatment effect with the invasive strategy. RESULTS Health status was assessed in 705 of 777 participants. Nearly half the participants (49%) had had no angina during the month before randomization. At 3 months, the estimated mean difference between the invasive-strategy group and the conservative-strategy group in the SAQ Summary score was 2.1 points (95% credible interval, 120.4 to 4.6), a result that favored the invasive strategy. The mean difference in score at 3 months was largest among participants with daily or weekly angina at baseline (10.1 points; 95% credible interval, 0.0 to 19.9), smaller among those with monthly angina at baseline (2.2 points; 95% credible interval, 122.0 to 6.2), and nearly absent among those without angina at baseline (0.6 points; 95% credible interval, 121.9 to 3.3). By 6 months, the between-group difference in the overall trial population was attenuated (0.5 points; 95% credible interval, 122.2 to 3.4). CONCLUSIONS Participants with stable ischemic heart disease, moderate or severe ischemia, and advanced chronic kidney disease did not have substantial or sustained benefits with regard to angina-related health status with an initially invasive strategy as compared with a conservative strategy

Health-status outcomes with invasive or conservative care in coronary disease

BACKGROUND In the ISCHEMIA trial, an invasive strategy with angiographic assessment and revascularization did not reduce clinical events among patients with stable ischemic heart disease and moderate or severe ischemia. A secondary objective of the trial was to assess angina-related health status among these patients. METHODS We assessed angina-related symptoms, function, and quality of life with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at randomization, at months 1.5, 3, and 6, and every 6 months thereafter in participants who had been randomly assigned to an invasive treatment strategy (2295 participants) or a conservative strategy (2322). Mixed-effects cumulative probability models within a Bayesian framework were used to estimate differences between the treatment groups. The primary outcome of this health-status analysis was the SAQ summary score (scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status). All analyses were performed in the overall population and according to baseline angina frequency. RESULTS At baseline, 35% of patients reported having no angina in the previous month. SAQ summary scores increased in both treatment groups, with increases at 3, 12, and 36 months that were 4.1 points (95% credible interval, 3.2 to 5.0), 4.2 points (95% credible interval, 3.3 to 5.1), and 2.9 points (95% credible interval, 2.2 to 3.7) higher with the invasive strategy than with the conservative strategy. Differences were larger among participants who had more frequent angina at baseline (8.5 vs. 0.1 points at 3 months and 5.3 vs. 1.2 points at 36 months among participants with daily or weekly angina as compared with no angina). CONCLUSIONS In the overall trial population with moderate or severe ischemia, which included 35% of participants without angina at baseline, patients randomly assigned to the invasive strategy had greater improvement in angina-related health status than those assigned to the conservative strategy. The modest mean differences favoring the invasive strategy in the overall group reflected minimal differences among asymptomatic patients and larger differences among patients who had had angina at baseline