Percolation of Superconductivity

In case of superconductors whose electrons attract each other only if they are near certain centers, the question arises 'How many such centers are needed to make the ground state superconducting?' We shall examine it in the context of a random U Hubbard model. In short we study the case where U_i is -|U| and 0 with probability c and 1-c respectively on a lattice whose sites are labelled i using the Gorkov decoupling and the Coherent Potential Approximation (CPA). We argue that for this model there is a critical concentration c_0 below which the system is not a superconductor.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figure

Exploring dynamical magnetism with time-dependent density-functional theory: from spin fluctuations to Gilbert damping

We use time-dependent spin-density-functional theory to study dynamical magnetic phenomena. First, we recall that the local-spin-density approximation (LSDA) fails to account correctly for magnetic fluctuations in the paramagnetic state of iron and other itinerant ferromagnets. Next, we construct a gradient-dependent density functional that does not suffer from this problem of the LSDA. This functional is then used to derive, for the first time, the phenomenological Gilbert equation of micromagnetics directly from time-dependent density-functional theory. Limitations and extensions of Gilbert damping are discussed on this basis, and some comparisons with phenomenological theories and experiments are made

Spontaneous currents in a ferromagnet - normal metal - superconductor trilayer

We discuss the ground state properties of the system composed of a normal metal sandwiched between ferromagnet and superconductor within a tight binding Hubbard model. We have solved the spin-polarized Hartree-Fock-Gorkov equations together with the Maxwell's equation (Ampere's law) and found a proximity induced Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state in this system. Here we show that the inclusion of the normal metal layer in between those subsystems does not necessarily lead to the suppression of the FFLO phase. Moreover, we have found that depending on the thickness of the normal metal slab the system can be switched periodically between the state with the spontaneous current flowing to that one with no current. All these effects can be explained in terms of the Andreev bound states formed in such structures.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov-like state in Ferromagnet-Superconductor Proximity System

We discuss some properties of the ferromagnet-superconductor proximity system. In particular, the emphasis is put on the physics of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) like state. In addition to Andreev reflections it features a number of unusual thermodynamic and transport properties, like: oscillatory behavior of the pairing amplitude, density of states and superconducting transition temperature as a function of the ferromagnet thickness. Surprisingly, under certain conditions spontaneous spin polarized current is generated in the ground state of such a system. We provide some informations regarding experimental observations of this exotic state.Comment: Talk given at Advanced Research Workshop on ''Physics of Spin in Solids: Materials, Methods & Applications'', Baku (October 2003

Spin Polarized Current in the Ground State of Superconductor - Ferromagnet - Insulator Trilayers

We study the ground state properties of a superconductor - ferromagnet - insulator trilayer on the basis of a Hubbard Model featuring exchange splitting in the ferromagnet and electron - electron attraction in the superconductor. We solve the spin - polarized Hartree - Fock - Gorkov equations together with the Maxwell's equation (Ampere's law) fully self-consistently. For certain values of the exchange splitting we find that a spontaneous spin polarized current is generated in the ground state and is intimately related to Andreev bound states at the Fermi level. Moreover, the polarization of the current strongly depends on the band filling.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figure

Effect of spin-orbit interaction on a magnetic impurity in the vicinity of a surface

We propose a new mechanism for surface-induced magnetic anisotropy to explain the thickness-dependence of the Kondo resistivity of thin films of dilute magnetic alloys. The surface anisotropy energy, generated by spin-orbit coupling on the magnetic impurity itself, is an oscillating function of the distance d from the surface and decays as 1/d^2. Numerical estimates based on simple models suggest that this mechanism, unlike its alternatives, gives rise to an effect of the desired order of magnitude.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure