Andreev experiments on superconductor/ferromagnet point contacts

Andreev reflection is a smart tool to investigate the spin polarisation P of the current through point contacts between a superconductor and a ferromagnet. We compare different models to extract P from experimental data and investigate the dependence of P on different contact parameters.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Fizika Nizkikh Temperatu

Spectroscopic Evidence for Multiple Order Parameter Components in the Heavy Fermion Superconductor CeCoIn_5

Point-contact spectroscopy was performed on single crystals of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn_5 between 150 mK and 2.5 K. A pulsed measurement technique ensured minimal Joule heating over a wide voltage range. The spectra show Andreev-reflection characteristics with multiple structures which depend on junction impedance. Spectral analysis using the generalized Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk formalism for d-wave pairing revealed two coexisting order parameter components, with amplitudes Delta_1 = 0.95 +/- 0.15 meV and Delta_2 = 2.4 +/- 0.3 meV, which evolve differently with temperature. Our observations indicate a highly unconventional pairing mechanism, possibly involving multiple bands.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Andreev experiments on superconductor/ferromagnet point contacts

Andreev reflection is a smart tool to investigate the spin polarization P of the current through point contacts between a superconductor and a ferromagnet. We compare different models to extract P from experimental data and investigate the dependence of P on different contact parameters

Local Anisotropy of Fluids using Minkowski Tensors

Statistics of the free volume available to individual particles have previously been studied for simple and complex fluids, granular matter, amorphous solids, and structural glasses. Minkowski tensors provide a set of shape measures that are based on strong mathematical theorems and easily computed for polygonal and polyhedral bodies such as free volume cells (Voronoi cells). They characterize the local structure beyond the two-point correlation function and are suitable to define indices $0\leq \beta_\nu^{a,b}\leq 1$ of local anisotropy. Here, we analyze the statistics of Minkowski tensors for configurations of simple liquid models, including the ideal gas (Poisson point process), the hard disks and hard spheres ensemble, and the Lennard-Jones fluid. We show that Minkowski tensors provide a robust characterization of local anisotropy, which ranges from $\beta_\nu^{a,b}\approx 0.3$ for vapor phases to $\beta_\nu^{a,b}\to 1$ for ordered solids. We find that for fluids, local anisotropy decreases monotonously with increasing free volume and randomness of particle positions. Furthermore, the local anisotropy indices $\beta_\nu^{a,b}$ are sensitive to structural transitions in these simple fluids, as has been previously shown in granular systems for the transition from loose to jammed bead packs

Theory of tunneling conductance for normal metal/insulator/triplet superconductor junctions

Tunneling conductance spectra of normal metal/insulator/triplet superconductor junctions are investigated theoretically. As triplet paring states we select several types of symmetries that are promising candidates for the superconducting states in UPt$_{3}$ and in Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$. The calculated conductance spectra are sensitive to the orientation of the junction which reflects the anisotropy of the pairing states. They show either zero-bias conductance peaks or gap-like structures depending on the orientation of the junctions. The existence of a residual density of states, peculiar to nonunitary states, is shown to have a significant influence on the properties of the conductance spectra. Present results serve as a guidefor the experimental determination of the symmetry of the pair potentials in UPt$_{3}$ and Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$.Comment: 10 pages, 11 eps figures, J.Phys.Soc.Jpn.67,No.9(1998

Ginzburg-Landau-Gor'kov Theory of Magnetic oscillations in a type-II 2-dimensional Superconductor

We investigate de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations in the mixed state of a type-II two-dimensional superconductor within a self-consistent Gor'kov perturbation scheme. Assuming that the order parameter forms a vortex lattice we can calculate the expansion coefficients exactly to any order. We have tested the results of the perturbation theory to fourth and eight order against an exact numerical solution of the corresponding Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. The perturbation theory is found to describe the onset of superconductivity well close to the transition point $H_{c2}$. Contrary to earlier calculations by other authors we do not find that the perturbative scheme predicts any maximum of the dHvA-oscillations below $H_{c2}$. Instead we obtain a substantial damping of the magnetic oscillations in the mixed state as compared to the normal state. We have examined the effect of an oscillatory chemical potential due to particle conservation and the effect of a finite Zeeman splitting. Furthermore we have investigated the recently debated issue of a possibility of a sign change of the fundamental harmonic of the magnetic oscillations. Our theory is compared with experiment and we have found good agreement.Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures. This is a replacement of supr-con/9608004. Several sections changed or added, including a section on the effect of spin and the effect of a conserved number of particles. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Coherence in the Quasi-Particle 'Scattering' by the Vortex Lattice in Pure Type-II Superconductors

The effect of quasi-particle (QP) 'scattering' by the vortex lattice on the de-Haas van-Alphen oscillations in a pure type-II superconductor is investigated within mean field,asymptotic perturbation theory. Using a 2D electron gas model it is shown that, due to a strict phase coherence in the many-particle correlation functions, the 'scattering' effect in the asymptotic limit ($\sqrt{E_F/\hbar\omega_c}\gg 1$) is much weaker than what is predicted by the random vortex lattice model proposed by Maki and Stephen, which destroys this coherence . The coherent many particle configuration is a collinear array of many particle coordinates, localized within a spatial region with size of the order of the magnetic length. The amplitude of the magnetization oscillations is sharply damped just below $$ because of strong $180^{\circ}$ out of phase magnetic oscillations in the superconducting condensation energy ,which tend to cancel the normal electron oscillations. Within the ideal 2D model used it is found, however, that because of the relative smallness of the quartic and higher order terms in the expansion, the oscillations amplitude at lower fields does not really damp to zero, but only reverses sign and remains virtually undamped well below $H_{c2}$. This conclusion may be changed if disorder in the vortex lattice, or vortex lines motion will be taken into account. The reduced QP 'scattering' effect may be responsible for the apparent crossover from a strong damping of the dHvA oscillations just below $H_{c2}$ to a weaker damping at lower fields observed experimentally in several 3D superconductors.Comment: 26 pages, Revtex no Figure