Physics – Condensed Matter – Superconductivity
Scientific paper
2010-11-19
Physics
Condensed Matter
Superconductivity
Scientific paper
It is well-known that the formation of discrete electron levels strongly influences the pairing in metallic nanograins. Here we focus on another effect of quantum confinement in superconducting grains that was not studied previously, i.e., spatially nonuniform pairing. This effect is very significant when single-electron levels form bunches and/or a kind of shell structure: in highly symmetric grains the order parameter can exhibit variations with position by an order of magnitude. Nonuniform pairing is closely related to a quantum-confinement induced modification of the pairing-interaction matrix elements and size-dependent pinning of the chemical potential to groups of degenerate or nearly degenerate levels. For illustration we consider spherical metallic nanograins. We show that the relevant matrix elements are as a rule enhanced in the presence of quantum confinement, which favors spatial variations of the order parameter, compensating the corresponding energy cost. The size-dependent pinning of the chemical potential further increases the spatial variation of the pair condensate. The role of nonuniform pairing is smaller in less symmetric confining geometries and/or in the presence of disorder. However, it always remains of importance when the energy spacing between discrete electron levels $\delta$ is approaching the scale of the bulk gap $\Delta_B$, i.e., $\delta > 0.1$-$0.2\,\Delta_B$.
Croitoru M. D.
Kaun C.-C.
Peeters François M.
Shanenko A. A.
No associations
LandOfFree
Metallic nanograins: spatially nonuniform pairing induced by quantum confinement 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 Metallic nanograins: spatially nonuniform pairing induced by quantum confinement, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Metallic nanograins: spatially nonuniform pairing induced by quantum confinement will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-117601