4 research outputs found
Spin Gaps in High Temperature Superconductors
The phenomenology and theory of spin gap effects in high temperature
superconductors is summarized. It is argued that the spin gap behavior can only
be explained by a model of charge 0 spin 1/2 fermions which become paired into
singlets and that there are both theoretical and experimental reasons for
believing that the pairing is greatly enhanced in the bilayer structure of the
system.
This article will appear in the Proceedings of the Stanford Conference on
Spectroscopies in Novel Superconductors. To obtain postscript files containing
the figures send mail to [email protected]: 9 pages, revtex. To obtain figures contact [email protected]
Superconducting Order Parameter Symmetry in Multi-layer Cuprates
We discuss the allowed order parameter symmetries in multi-layer cuprates and
their physical consequences using highly non-specific forms of the inter- and
intra-plane interactions. Within this framework, the bi-layer case is discussed
in detail with particular attention paid to the role of small orthorhombic
distortions as would derive from the chains in YBCO or superlattice effects in
BSCCO. In the orthorhombic bi-layer case the (s,-s) state is of special
interest, since for a wide range of parameters this state exhibits pi phase
shifts in corner Josephson junction experiments. In addition, its transition
temperature is found to be insensitive to non-magnetic inter-plane disorder, as
would be present at the rare earth site in YBCO, for example. Of particular
interest, also, are the role of van Hove singularities which are seen to
stabilize states with d_{x^2 - y^2}-like symmetry, (as well as nodeless
s-states) and to elongate the gap functions along the four van Hove points,
thereby leading to a substantial region of gaplessness. We find that d_{x^2 -
y^2}-like states are general solutions for repulsive interactions; they possess
the fewest number of nodes and therefore the highest transition temperatures.
In this way, they should not be specifically associated with a spin fluctuation
driven pairing mechanism.Comment: REVTeX documentstyle, 34 pages, 10 figures include