Signatures of nodeless multiband superconductivity and particle-hole crossover in the vortex cores of FeTe0.55_{0.55}Se0.45_{0.45}

Scanning tunneling experiments on single crystals of superconducting FeTe$_{0.55}$Se$_{0.45}$ have recently provided evidence for discrete energy levels inside vortices. Although predicted long ago, such levels are seldom resolved due to extrinsic (temperature, instrumentation) and intrinsic (quasiparticle scattering) limitations. We study a microscopic multiband model with parameters appropriate for FeTe$_{0.55}$Se$_{0.45}$. We confirm the existence of well-separated bound states and show that the chemical disorder due to random occupation of the chalcogen site does not affect significantly the vortex-core electronic structure. We further analyze the vortex bound states by projecting the local density of states on angular-momentum eigenstates. A rather complex pattern of bound states emerges from the multiband and mixed electron-hole nature of the normal-state carriers. The character of the vortex states changes from hole-like with negative angular momentum at low energy to electron-like with positive angular momentum at higher energy within the superconducting gap. We show that disorder in the arrangement of vortices most likely explains the differences found experimentally when comparing different vortices.Comment: Published versio

A theory of the strain-dependent critical field in Nb3Sn, based on anharmonic phonon generation

We propose a theory to explain the strain dependence of the critical properties in A15 superconductors. Starting from the strong-coupling formula for the critical temperature, and assuming that the strain sensitivity stems mostly from the electron-phonon alpha^2F function, we link the strain dependence of the critical properties to a widening of alpha^2F. This widening is attributed to the nonlinear generation of phonons, which takes place in the anharmonic deformation potential induced by the strain. Based on the theory of sum- and difference-frequency wave generation in nonlinear media, we obtain an explicit connection between the widening of alpha^2F and the anharmonic energy. The resulting model is fit to experimental datasets for Nb3Sn, and the anharmonic energy extracted from the fits is compared with first-principles calculations.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Theory of spin-polarized high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy from nonmagnetic surfaces with a large spin-orbit coupling

The scattering theory of low-energy (slow) electrons has been developed by Evans and Mills [Phys. Rev. B 5, 4126 (1972)]. The formalism is merely based on the electrostatic Coulomb interaction of the scattering electrons with the charge-density fluctuations above the surface and can describe most of the interesting features observed in the high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy experiments. Here we extend this theory by including the spin-orbit coupling in the scattering process. We discuss the impact of this interaction on the scattering cross section. In particular, we discuss cases in which a spin-polarized electron beam is scattered from nonmagnetic surfaces with a strong spin-orbit coupling. We show that under some assumptions one can derive an expression for the scattering cross section, which can be used for numerical calculations of the spin-polarized spectra recorded by spin-polarized high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Non-Drude universal scaling laws for the optical response of local Fermi liquids

We investigate the frequency and temperature dependence of the low-energy electron dynamics in a Landau Fermi liquid with a local self-energy. We show that the frequency and temperature dependencies of the optical conductivity obey universal scaling forms, for which explicit analytical expressions are obtained. For the optical conductivity and the associated memory function, we obtain a number of surprising features that differ qualitatively from the Drude model and are universal characteristics of a Fermi liquid. Different physical regimes of scaling are identified, with marked non-Drude features in the regime where hbar omega ~ kB T. These analytical results for the optical conductivity are compared to numerical calculations for the doped Hubbard model within dynamical mean-field theory. For the "universal" low-energy electrodynamics, we obtain perfect agreement between numerical calculations and analytical scaling laws. Both results show that the optical conductivity displays a non-Drude "foot", which could be easily mistaken as a signature of breakdown of the Fermi liquid, while it actually is a striking signature of its applicability. The aforementioned scaling laws provide a quantitative tool for the experimental identification and analysis of the Fermi-liquid state using optical spectroscopy, and a powerful method for the identification of alternative states of matter, when applicable.Comment: Published versio

Preeminent role of the Van Hove singularity in the strong-coupling analysis of scanning tunneling spectroscopy for two-dimensional cuprates

In two dimensions the non-interacting density of states displays a Van Hove singularity (VHS) which introduces an intrinsic electron-hole asymmetry, absent in three dimensions. We show that due to this VHS the strong-coupling analysis of tunneling spectra in high-$T_c$ superconductors must be reconsidered. Based on a microscopic model which reproduces the experimental data with great accuracy, we elucidate the peculiar role played by the VHS in shaping the tunneling spectra, and show that more conventional analyses of strong-coupling effects can lead to severe errors.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Titanium corrosion in molten glasses : Part 1: Immersion tests and corrosion kinetics

The kinetics and mechanisms of pure titanium corrosion in three glass melts are investigated in the 1050 to 1400 °C temperature range by Immersion tests. The corrosion layers formed at the metal/glass interface, the elemental concentration profiles in the glass and the corrosion rates are determined. Corrosion rates are reported on an Arrhenius diagram for each glass

Can dd excitations mediate pairing ?

The Cu-$3d$ states in the high-$T_c$ cuprates are often described as a single band of $3d_{x^2-y^2}$ states, with the other four $3d$ states having about 2 to 3 eV higher energy due to the lower-than-octahedral crystal field at the copper sites. However, excitations to these higher energy states observed with RIXS show indications of strong coupling to doped holes in the $3d_{x^2-y^2}$ band. This relaunches a decades-old question of the possible role of the orbital degrees of freedom that once motivated Bednorz and M\"uller to search for superconductivity in these systems. Here we explore a direction different from the Jahn-Teller electron-phonon coupling considered by Bednorz and M\"uller, namely the interaction between holes mediated by $dd$ excitations.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Revisiting the vortex-core tunnelling spectroscopy in YBa2_2Cu3_3O7−δ_{7-\delta}

The observation by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS) of Abrikosov vortex cores in the high-temperature superconductor YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ (Y123) has revealed a robust pair of electron-hole symmetric states at finite subgap energy. Their interpretation remains an open question because theory predicts a different signature in the vortex cores, characterised by a strong zero-bias conductance peak. We present STS data on very homogeneous Y123 at 0.4 K revealing that the subgap features do not belong to vortices: they are actually observed everywhere along the surface with high spatial and energy reproducibility, even in the absence of magnetic field. Detailed analysis and modelling show that these states remain unpaired in the superconducting phase and belong to an incoherent channel which contributes to the tunnelling signal in parallel with the superconducting density of states.Comment: Final version with supplementary materia

Titanium corrosion in molten glasses : Part 2. Electrochemical study and corrosion mechanismus

In situ electrochemical experiments are carried out to determine the mechanisms of pure titanium corrosion in molten glasses. The corrosion layers formed at the metal/glass interface are systematically reported. The formal potentials of the TiIII/TiII and TiIV/TiIII redox couples are respectively positioned at -1.0 V and -0.7 V by coupling square wave voltammetry measurements and polarization of titanium rods. The potential of the BIII/B0 couple is estimated to be near -1.4 V. The results obtained by immersion tests and electrochemical measurements in glasses are compared. They are consistent in terms of corrosion rate variations and morphology of the corrosion scales. The corrosion mechanisms are described in the form of successive redox reactions between the glass and the substrate followed by diffusion of the formed species into the titanium substrate. It is demonstrated that Ti does not form spontaneously protective scales when immersed in molten glass and that protection can not be reached by either anodic or cathodic polarization