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Published on: March 24, 2019
Pressure induced FFLO instability in multi-band superconductors
I T Padilha1, M A Continentino
1Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Campus da Praia Vermelha, 24210-340, Niterói, JR, Brazil.
Summary
Multi-band superconductors with hybridized orbitals can host exotic superconducting phases. Increasing hybridization drives a transition from a conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer state to an inhomogeneous Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Superconductivity
- Materials Science
Background:
- Multi-band systems feature quasi-particles from different orbitals with varying masses.
- Mismatched Fermi wavevectors in these systems can lead to exotic superconducting phases like Sarma or FFLO.
- Orbital hybridization, tunable by pressure, influences superconducting properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the emergence of a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase.
- Examine the role of hybridization in a two-band Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superconductor.
- Determine the conditions for instability of the BCS state.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical investigation of a two-band BCS superconductor model.
- Analysis of the system's behavior under varying hybridization levels.
- Zero-temperature phase diagram analysis.
Main Results:
- The Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) state becomes unstable as hybridization increases.
- An inhomogeneous superconducting state characterized by a single wavevector (q) emerges.
- Hybridization acts as a control parameter for phase transitions.
Conclusions:
- Hybridization in two-band superconductors can induce inhomogeneous superconducting states.
- The Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase is accessible by tuning hybridization.
- This work highlights potential pathways to exotic superconductivity in multi-band materials.
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