780 research outputs found
Low-energy quasiparticle states near extended scatterers in d-wave superconductors and their connection with SUSY quantum mechanics
Low-energy quasiparticle states, arising from scattering by single-particle
potentials in d-wave superconductors, are addressed. Via a natural extension of
the Andreev approximation, the idea that sign-variations in the superconducting
pair-potential lead to such states is extended beyond its original setting of
boundary scattering to the broader context of scattering by general
single-particle potentials, such as those due to impurities. The
index-theoretic origin of these states is exhibited via a simple connection
with Witten's supersymmetric quantum-mechanical model.Comment: 5 page
Josephson scanning tunneling microscopy
We propose a set of scanning tunneling microscopy experiments in which the
surface of superconductor is scanned by a superconducting tip. Potential
capabilities of such experimental setup are discussed. Most important
anticipated results of such an experiment include the position-resolved
measurement of the superconducting order parameter and the possibility to
determine the nature of the secondary component of the order parameter at the
surface. The theoretical description based on the tunneling Hamiltonian
formalism is presented.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Localized surface states in HTSC: Alternative mechanism of zero-bias conductance peaks
It is shown that the quasiparticle states localized in the vicinity of
surface imperfections of atomic size can be responsible for the zero-bias
tunneling conductance peaks in high-Tc superconductors. The contribution from
these states can be easily separated from other mechanisms using their
qualitatively different response on an external magnetic field.Comment: REVTeX, 4 pages, 2 figs; to be published in PR
Electronic structure of d-wave superconducting quantum wires
We present analytical and numerical results for the electronic spectra of
wires of a d-wave superconductor on a square lattice. The spectra of Andreev
and other quasiparticle states, as well as the spatial and particle-hole
structures of their wave functions, depend on interference effects caused by
the presence of the surfaces and are qualitatively different for half-filled
wires with even or odd number of chains. For half-filled wires with an odd
number of chains N at (110) orientation, spectra consist of N doubly degenerate
branches. By contrast, for even N wires, these levels are split, and all
quasiparticle states, even the ones lying above the maximal gap, have the
characteristic properties of Andreev bound states. These Andreev states above
the gap can be interpreted as a consequence of an infinite sequence of Andreev
reflections experienced by quasiparticles along their trajectories bounded by
the surfaces of the wire. Our microscopic results for the local density of
states display atomic-scale Friedel oscillations due to the presence of the
surfaces, which should be observable by scanning tunneling microscopy. For
narrow wires the self-consistent treatment of the order parameter is found to
play a crucial role. In particular, we find that for small wire widths the
finite geometry may drive strong fluctuations or even stablilize exotic
quasi-1D pair states with spin triplet character.Comment: 21 pages, 20 figures. Slightly modified version as published in PR
Probing d-wave pairing correlations in the pseudogap regime of the cuprate superconductors via low-energy states near impurities
The issue of probing the pseudogap regime of the cuprate superconductors,
specifically with regard to the existence and nature of superconducting pairing
correlations of d-wave symmetry, is explored theoretically. It is shown that if
the d-wave correlations believed to describe the superconducting state persist
into the pseudogap regime, but with pair-potential phase-fluctuations that
destroy their long-range nature, then the low-energy quasiparticle states
observed near extended impurities in the truly superconducting state should
also persist as resonances in the pseudogap regime. The scattering of
quasiparticles by these phase-fluctuations broadens what was (in the
superconducting state) a sharp peak in the single-particle spectral function at
low energy, as we demonstrate within the context of a simple model. This peak
and its broadening is, in principle, accessible via scanning tunneling
spectroscopy near extended impurities in the pseudogap regime. If so, such
experiments would provide a probe of the extent to which d-wave superconducting
correlations persist upon entering the pseudogap regime, thus providing a
stringent diagnostic of the phase-fluctuation scenario.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure
Two regimes for effects of surface disorder on the zero-bias conductance peak of tunnel junctions involving d-wave superconductors
Impurity-induced quasiparticle bound states on a pair-breaking surface of a
d-wave superconductor are theoretically described, taking into account
hybridization of impurity- and surface-induced Andreev states. Further a theory
for effects of surface disorder (of thin impurity surface layer) on the
low-bias conductance of tunnel junctions is developed. We find a threshold
for surface impurity concentration , which separates the two regimes
for surface impurity effects on the zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP). Below
the threshold, surface impurities do not broaden the ZBCP, but effectively
reduce its weight and generate impurity bands. For low impurity bands can
be, in principle, resolved experimentally, being centered at energies of bound
states induced by an isolated impurity on the surface. For larger
impurity bands are distorted, move to lower energies and, beginning with the
threshold concentration , become centered at zero energy. With
increasing above the threshold, the ZBCP is quickly destroyed in the case
of strong scatterers, while it is gradually suppressed and broaden in the
presence of weak impurity potentials. More realistic cases, taking into account
additional broadening, not related to the surface disorder, are also
considered.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
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