Time-reversal symmetry breaking state near the surface of s±s_{\pm}-superconductor

The structure of superconducting order parameter near the surface of a two-band superconductor with $s_{\pm}$ order parameter in the bulk is theoretically investigated. The main parameter of the surface, which determines the appropriate physics is the coefficient of the interband scattering $R_{12}$. For small $R_{12}$ the superconducting order parameter is only suppressed to some extent near the surface for the both bands. For intermediate and strong interband scattering there are two possible non-trivial surface states of the order parameter: (i) purely real solution, where the symmetry of the superconducting state near the surface is changed from $s_{\pm}$ to conventional $s_{++}$ and (ii) time-reversal symmetry breaking (TRB) state. In this state the order parameters in the two bands acquire phases $\phi_{1,2}(x) \neq (0,\pi)$ upon approaching the surface. We argue that at low temperatures the TRB surface state can be more energetically favorable than the $s_{\pm} \to s_{++}$ time reversal symmetry conserving state (TR). For higher temperatures up to $T_c$ only the TR state can exist. The transition between the two temperature regions is rather sharp. Signatures of the transition between the TRB and the TR surface states can be detected by the measurements of the local density of states and the angle-resolved density of states.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1003.277

Quasiclassical theory of superconductivity: a multiple interface geometry

The purpose of the paper is to suggest a new method which allows one to study multiple coherent reflection/transmissions by partially transparent interfaces (e.g. in multi-layer mesoscopic structures or grain boundaries in high-Tc's) in the framework of the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity. It is argued that typically the trajectory of the particle is a simply connected tree (no loops) with knots, i.e. the points where interface scattering events occur and ballistic pieces of the trajectory are mixed. A linear boundary condition for the 2-component trajectory "wave function" which factorizes matrix (retarded) Green's function, is formulated for an arbitrary interface, specular or diffusive. To show the usage of the method, the current response to the vector potential (the total superfluid density rho_s) of a SS' sandwich with the different signs of the order parameter in S and S', is calculated. In this model, a few percent of reflection by the SS' interface transforms the paramagnetic response (rho_s < 0) created by the zero-energy Andreev bound states near an ideal interface (see Fauchere et al. PRL, 82, 3336 (1999), cond-mat/9901112), into the usual diamagnetic one (rho_s >0).Comment: Extended abstract submitted to "Electron Transport in Mesoscopic Systems", Satellite conference to LT22, Goteborg, 12-15 August, 1999. 2 pages Minor changes + the text height problem fixe

Bogoliubov - de Gennes versus Quasiclassical Description of Josephson Structures

The applicability of the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity in Josephson multi-layer structures is analyzed. The quasiclassical approach is compared with the exact theory based on the Bogoliubov - de Gennes equation. The angle and energy resolved (coarse-grain) currents are calculated using both techniques. It is shown that the two approaches agree in $SIS'IS''$ geometries after the coarse-grain averaging. A quantitative discrepancy, which exceeds the quasiclassical accuracy, is observed when three or more interfaces are present. The invalidity of the quasiclassical theory is attributed to the presence of closed trajectories formed by sequential reflections on the interfaces.Comment: revtex4,12 pages, 12 figure

Counting statistics of interfering Bose-Einstein condensates

A method is presented that is able to predict the probability of outcomes of snapshot measurements, such as the images of the instantaneous particle density distribution in a quantum many-body system. It is shown that a gauge-like transformation of the phase of the many-body wave function allows one to construct a probability generating functional, the Fourier transform of which with respect to the "gauge" field returns the joint probability distribution to detect any given number of particles at various locations. The method is applied to the problem of interference of two independent clouds of Bose-Einstein condensates, where the initially separated clouds with fixed boson numbers expand and the density profile image of the overlapping clouds is registered. In the limit of large particle numbers, the probability to observe a particular image of the density profile is shown to be given by a sum of partial probability distributions, each of which corresponds to a noisy image of interference of two matter waves with definite phase difference. In agreement with earlier theoretical arguments, interference fringes are, therefore, expected in any single shot measurement, the fringe pattern randomly varying from run to run. These results conform to the physical picture where the Bose-Einstein clouds are in spontaneously symmetry broken states, the hidden phases of which are revealed by the density profile measurement via the position of the interference fringes.Comment: Some changes in presentation, as published, 6 pages, LaTe

Thermoelectric effect in superconducting nanostructures

We study thermoelectric effects in superconducting nanobridges and demonstrate that the magnitude of these effects can be comparable or even larger than that for a macroscopic superconducting circuit. The reason is related to a possibility to have very large gradients of electron temperature within the nanobridge. The corresponding heat conductivity problems are considered. It is shown that the nanoscale devices allow one to get rid of masking effects related to spurious magnetic fields.Comment: minor changes in the text, RevTex, 7 page

Electric instability in superconductor-normal conductor ring

Non-linear electrodynamics of a ring-shaped Andreev interferometer (superconductor-normal conductor-superconductor hybrid structure) inductively coupled to a circuit of the dissipative current is investigated. The current-voltage characteristics (CVC) is demonstrated to be a series of loops with several branches intersecting in the CVC origin. The sensitivity of the transport current to a change of the applied external magnetic flux can be comparable to the one of the conventional SQUID's. Spontaneous arising of coupled non-linear oscillations of the transport current, the Josephson current and the magnetic flux in Andreev interferometers are also predicted and investigated. The frequency of these oscillations can be varied in a wide range, while the maximal frequency can reach $\omega_{max} \sim 10^{12}$ $sec^{-1}$.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure