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Observability of quantum phase fluctuations in cuprate superconductors
H J Kwon1, A T Dorsey, P J Hirschfeld
1Department of Physics and Center for Superconductivity Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-4111, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|May 1, 2001
Summary
Phase fluctuations in cuprate superconductors are studied using a d-wave BCS model. These fluctuations are hard to see in superfluid phase stiffness but may be detectable via pair tunneling experiments measuring pair-field susceptibility.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Superconductivity
Background:
- Cuprate superconductors exhibit complex behaviors near absolute zero (T = 0).
- Understanding order parameter phase fluctuations is crucial for explaining their properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of order parameter phase fluctuations in quasi-two-dimensional d-wave cuprate superconductors near T = 0.
- To develop an effective phason theory to quantify these fluctuations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a quasi-two-dimensional d-wave Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) model.
- Derived an effective phason theory to analyze fluctuation phenomena.
- Calculated fluctuation corrections to the in-plane penetration depth and pair-field susceptibility.
Main Results:
- Phase fluctuation effects were found to be difficult to observe in the renormalization of superfluid phase stiffness.
- The study estimates the strength of phase fluctuations.
- Significant fluctuation corrections to the in-plane penetration depth were identified.
Conclusions:
- Phase fluctuations in these superconductors have subtle effects on superfluid phase stiffness.
- Pair tunneling experiments measuring pair-field susceptibility offer a potential avenue for observing these phase fluctuation effects.