Physics – Condensed Matter – Superconductivity
Scientific paper
2009-02-09
Phys. Rev. B 79, 174528 (2009). (Editors' Suggestion)
Physics
Condensed Matter
Superconductivity
16 pages, 2 figures; minor typos corrected, references added
Scientific paper
10.1103/PhysRevB.79.174528
We discuss the superconductor to normal phase transition in an infinite-layered type-II superconductor in the limit where the Josephson coupling between layers is negligible. We model each layer as a neutral gas of thermally excited pancake vortices. We assume the dominant interaction between vortices in the same and in different layers is the electromagnetic interaction between the screening currents induced by these vortices. Our main result, obtained by exactly solving the leading order renormalization group flow, is that the phase transition in this model is a Kosterlitz--Thouless transition despite being a three--dimensional system. While the transition itself is driven by the unbinding of two-dimensional pancake vortices, an RG analysis of the low temperature phase and a mean-field theory of the high temperature phase reveal that both phases possess three-dimensional correlations. An experimental consequence of this is that the jump in the measured in-plane superfluid stiffness, which is a universal quantity in 2d Kosterlitz-Thouless theory, will receive a small non--universal correction (of order 1% in Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+x}$). This overall picture places some claims expressed in the literature on a more secure analytical footing and also resolves some conflicting views.
Oganesyan Vadim
Raman Sundara K.
Sondhi Shivaji L.
No associations
LandOfFree
Biot-Savart correlations in layered superconductors does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Biot-Savart correlations in layered superconductors, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Biot-Savart correlations in layered superconductors will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-19406