153 research outputs found
Pinhole calculations of the Josephson effect in 3He-B
We study theoretically the dc Josephson effect between two volumes of
superfluid 3He-B. We first discuss how the calculation of the current-phase
relationships is divided into a mesoscopic and a macroscopic problem. We then
analyze mass and spin currents and the symmetry of weak links. In quantitative
calculations the weak link is assumed to be a pinhole, whose size is small in
comparison to the coherence length. We derive a quasiclassical expression for
the coupling energy of a pinhole, allowing also for scattering in the hole.
Using a selfconsistent order parameter near a wall, we calculate the
current-phase relationships in several cases. In the isotextural case, the
current-phase relations are plotted assuming a constant spin-orbit texture. In
the opposite anisotextural case the texture changes as a function of the phase
difference. For that we have to consider the stiffness of the macroscopic
texture, and we also calculate some surface interaction parameters. We analyze
the experiments by Marchenkov et al. We find that the observed pi states and
bistability hardly can be explained with the isotextural pinhole model, but a
good quantitative agreement is achieved with the anisotextural model.Comment: 20 pages, 21 figures, revtex
Model of Inhomogeneous Impurity Distribution in Fermi Superfluids
The standard treatment of impurities in metals assumes a homogeneous
distribution of impurities. In this paper we study distributions that are
inhomogeneous. We discuss in detail the "isotropic inhomogeneous scattering
model" which takes into account the spatially varying scattering on the scale
of the superfluid coherence length. On a large scale the model reduces to a
homogeneous medium with renormalized parameter values. We apply the model to
superfluid 3He, where porous aerogel acts as the impurity. We calculate the
transition temperature Tc, the order parameter, and the superfluid density.
Both A- and B-like phases are considered. Two different types of behavior are
identified for the temperature dependence of the order parameter. We compare
the calculations with experiments on 3He in aerogel. We find that most of the
differences between experiments and the homogeneous theory can be explained by
the inhomogeneous model. All our calculations are based on the quasiclassical
theory of Fermi liquids. The parameters of this theory for superfluid 3He in
aerogel are discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, minor change
Analysis of Strong-Coupling Parameters for Superfluid 3He
Superfluid He experiments show strong deviation from the weak-coupling
limit of the Ginzburg-Landau theory, and this discrepancy grows with increasing
pressure. Strong-coupling contributions to the quasiparticle interactions are
known to account for this effect and they are manifest in the five
-coefficients of the fourth order Ginzburg-Landau free energy terms. The
Ginzburg-Landau free energy also has a coefficient to include magnetic
field coupling to the order parameter. From NMR susceptibility experiments, we
find the deviation of from its weak-coupling value to be negligible at
all pressures. New results for the pressure dependence of four different
combinations of -coefficients, _{345}, _{12},
_{245}, and _{5} are calculated and comparison is made with
theory.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Manuscript prepared for QFS200
Spin susceptibility of the superfluid He-B in aerogel
The temperature dependence of paramagnetic susceptibility of the superfluid
^{3}He-B in aerogel is found. Calculations have been performed for an arbitrary
phase shift of s-wave scattering in the framework of BCS weak coupling theory
and the simplest model of aerogel as an aggregate of homogeneously distributed
ordinary impurities. Both limiting cases of the Born and unitary scattering can
be easily obtained from the general result. The existence of gapless
superfluidity starting at the critical impurity concentration depending on the
value of the scattering phase has been demonstrated. While larger than in the
bulk liquid the calculated susceptibility of the B-phase in aerogel proves to
be conspicuously smaller than that determined experimentally in the high
pressure region.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, REVTe
Local Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in d_(x2-y2) Superconductors
We show that an isolated impurity in a spin singlet d_{x2-y2} superconductor
generates a d_{xy} order parameter with locally broken time-reversal symmetry.
The origin of this effect is a coupling between the d_{x2-y2} and the d_{xy}
order parameter induced by spin-orbit scattering off the impurity. The
signature of locally broken time-reversal symmetry is an induced orbital charge
current near the impurity, which generates a localized magnetic field in the
vicinity of the impurity. We present a microscopic theory for the impurity
induced d_{xy} component, discuss its spatial structure as well as the pattern
of induced current and local magnetic field near the localized impurity spin.Comment: 4 pages in ReVTeX format. PACS numbers: 74.25Bt, 74.62D
Vortex Multiplication in Applied Flow: the Precursor to Superfluid Turbulence
The dynamics of quantized vortices in rotating He-B is investigated in
the low density (single-vortex) regime as a function of temperature. An abrupt
transition is observed at . Above this temperature the number of
vortex lines remains constant, as they evolve to their equilibrium positions.
Below this temperature the number of vortices increases linearly in time until
the vortex density has grown sufficiently for turbulence to switch on. On the
basis of numerical calculations we suggest a mechanism responsible for vortex
formation at low temperatures and identify the mutual friction parameter which
governs its abrupt temperature dependence.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; version submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Abrikosov vortex escape from a columnar defect as a topological electronic transition in vortex core
We study microscopic scenario of vortex escape from a columnar defect under
the influence of a transport current. For defect radii smaller than the
superconducting coherence length the depinning process is shown to be a
consequence of two subsequent topological electronic transitions in a trapped
vortex core. The first transition at a critical current is associated
with the opening of Fermi surface segments corresponding to the creation of a
vortex--antivortex pair bound to the defect. The second transition at a certain
current is caused by merging of different Fermi surface segments,
which accompanies the formation of a freely moving vortex.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Anisotropic Aerogels for Studying Superfluid He
It may be possible to stabilize new superfluid phases of He with
anisotropic silica aerogels. We discuss two methods that introduce anisotropy
in the aerogel on length scales relevant to superfluid He. First,
anisotropy can be induced with uniaxial strain. A second method generates
anisotropy during the growth and drying stages. We have grown cylindrical
98% aerogels with anisotropy indicated by preferential radial shrinkage
after supercritical drying and find that this shrinkage correlates with small
angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). The growth-induced anisotropy was found to be
out of phase relative to that induced by strain. This has
implications for the possible stabilization of superfluid phases with specific
symmetry.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Quantum Fluids and Solids (QFS)
conference 200
Thermodynamic properties of thin films of superfluid 3He-A
The pairing correlations in superfluid He-3 are strongly modified by
quasiparticle scattering off a surface or an interface. We present theoretical
results and predictions for the order parameter, the quasiparticle excitation
spectrum and the free energy for thin films of superfluid He-3. Both specular
and diffuse scattering by a substrate are considered, while the free surface is
assumed to be a perfectly reflecting specular boundary. The results are based
on self-consistent calculations of the order parameter and quasiparticle
excitation spectrum at zero pressure. We obtain new results for the phase
diagram, free energy, entropy and specific heat of thin films of superfluid
He-3.Comment: Replaced with an updated versio
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