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arXiv · 1503.07267

Fractional Flux Plateau in Magnetization Curve of Multicomponent Superconductor Loop

Zhao Huang·Xiao Hu
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Abstract

Time-reversal symmetry (TRS) may be broken in superconductors with three or more condensates interacting repulsively, yielding two degenerate states specified by chirality of gap functions. We consider a loop of such superconductor with two halves occupied by the two states with opposite chiralities. Fractional flux plateaus are found in magnetization curve associated with free-energy minima, where the two domain walls between the two halves accommodate different inter-component phase kinks leading to finite winding numbers in a part of the whole condensates around the loop. Fractional flux plateaus form pairs with their heights related to the flux quantum Φ0 = hc/2e. This phenomenon is a clear evidence of time-reversal symmetry broken (TRSB) superconductivity, which in a general point of view provides a novel chance to explore relative phase difference, phase kink and soliton in ubiquitous multi-component superconductivity such as that in iron pnicitides.

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Zhao Huang, Xiao Hu. 2015-12-25. Fractional Flux Plateau in Magnetization Curve of Multicomponent Superconductor Loop. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.92.214516

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