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Superconductivity near itinerant ferromagnetic quantum criticality
1Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|December 12, 2001
Summary
Superconductivity in metals near magnetic transitions is suppressed by spin fluctuations. This study shows these fluctuations reduce coherence and lifetime, rapidly lowering the superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) near a quantum critical point (QCP).
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Critical Phenomena
- Superconductivity Theory
Background:
- Superconductivity in metals can be influenced by magnetic fluctuations.
- Understanding the behavior near quantum critical points (QCPs) is crucial for novel material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate superconductivity mediated by spin fluctuations in weak and nearly ferromagnetic metals.
- To analyze the impact of proximity to a zero-temperature magnetic transition on superconductivity.
- To determine the superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) as a function of distance from the QCP.
Main Methods:
- Analytical solution of the Eliashberg equations for p-wave pairing.
- Calculation of quasiparticle self-energy.
- Modeling the effect of quasistatic spin fluctuations on quasiparticle properties.
Main Results:
- Spin fluctuations act as a dominant pair-breaking mechanism.
- Quasiparticle coherence and lifetime are significantly reduced near the QCP.
- The superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) is rapidly suppressed to a nonzero value approaching the QCP.
Conclusions:
- Spin fluctuation scattering is a key factor limiting superconductivity near magnetic QCPs.
- The findings offer insights into the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in correlated electron systems.
- Comparison with paramagnetic impurity effects highlights unique aspects of spin-fluctuation-mediated superconductivity.