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A. A. Varlamov

Publications and source records attributed to A. A. Varlamov.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Fluctuoscopy of Disordered Two-Dimensional Superconductors

We revise the long studied problem of fluctuation conductivity (FC) in disordered two-dimensional superconductors placed in a perpendicular magnetic field by finally deriving the complete solution in the temperature-magnetic field phase diagram. The obtained expressions allow both to perform straightforward (numerical) calculation of the FC surface $δσ_{xx}^{(\mathrm{tot})}(T,H)$ and to get asymptotic expressions in all its qualitatively different domains. This surface becomes in particular non-trivial at low temperatures, where it is trough-shaped with $% δσ_{xx}^{(\mathrm{tot})}(T,H)<0$. In this region, close to the quantum phase transition, $δσ_{xx}^{(\mathrm{tot})}(T,H=\mathrm{const})$ is non-monotonic, in agreement with experimental findings. We reanalyzed and present comparisons to several experimental measurements. Based on our results we derive a qualitative picture of superconducting fluctuations close to $H_{\mathrm{c2}}(0) $ and T=0 where fluctuation Cooper pairs rotate with cyclotron frequency $ω_{c}\simΔ_{\mathrm{BCS}}^{-1}$ and Larmor radius $\sim ξ_{\mathrm{BCS}}$, forming some kind of quantum liquid with long coherence length $ξ_{\mathrm{QF}}\ggξ_{\mathrm{BCS}}$ and slow relaxation ($τ_{\mathrm{QF}}\gg\hbarΔ_{\mathrm{BCS}}^{-1}$).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

The Nernst effect from fluctuating pairs in the pseudogap phase

The observation of a large Nernst signal in cuprates above the superconducting transition temperature has attracted much attention. A potential explanation is that it originates from superconducting fluctuations. Although the Nernst signal is indeed consistent with gaussian fluctuations for overdoped cuprates, gaussian theory fails to describe the temperature dependence seen for underdoped cuprates. Here, we consider the vertex correction to gaussian theory resulting from the pseudogap. This yields a Nernst signal in good agreement with the data.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Quantum Fluctuations and Dynamic Clustering of Fluctuating Cooper Pairs

We derive exact expressions for the fluctuation conductivity in two dimensional superconductors as a function of temperature and magnetic field in the whole fluctuation region above the upper critical field H_{c2}(T). Focusing on the vicinity of the quantum phase transition near zero temperature, we propose that as the magnetic field approaches the line near H_{c2}(0) from above, a peculiar dynamic state consisting of clusters of coherently rotating fluctuation Cooper-pairs forms and estimate the characteristic size and lifetime of such clusters. We find the zero temperature magnetic field dependence of the the transverse magnetoconductivity above H_{c2}(0) in layered superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Fluctuation-Dissipative Phenomena in a Narrow Superconducting Channel Carrying Current Below Critical

The theory of current transport in a narrow superconducting channel accounting for thermal fluctuations is developed. These fluctuations result in the appearance of small but finite dissipation in the sample. The value of corresponding voltage is found as the function of temperature (close to transition temperature) and arbitrary bias current. It is demonstrated that the value of the activation energy (exponential factor in the Arrenius law) when current approaches to the critical one is proportional to (1-J/Jc)^(5/4). This result is in concordance with the one for the affine phenomenon of the Josephson current decay due to the thermal phase fluctuations, where the activation energy proportional (1-J/J_c)^(3/2)(the difference in the exponents is related to the additional current dependence of the order parameter). Found dependence of the activation energy on current explains the enormous discrepancy between the theoretically predicted before and the experimentally observed broadening of the resistive transition.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

The effect of Magnetic Field on MQT Escape Time in "Small" Josephson Junctions

We study the phenomenon of macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in a finite size Josephson junction (JJ) with an externally applied magnetic field. As it is well known, the problem of MQT in a point-like JJ is reduced to the study of the under-barrier motion of a quantum particle in the washboard potential. In the case of a finite size JJ placed in magnetic field, this problem is considerably more complex since, besides the phase, the potential itself, depends on space variables. We find the general expressions both for the crossover temperature $T_{0}$ between thermally activated and macroscopic quantum tunneling regimes and the escape time $τ_{\mathrm{esc}}$. It turns out that in proximity of particular values of magnetic field the crossover temperature can vary non-monotonically.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Giant Nernst Effect due to Fluctuating Cooper Pairs in Superconductors

A theory of the fluctuation-induced Nernst effect is developed for arbitrary magnetic fields and temperatures beyond the upper critical field line in a two-dimensional superconductor. First, we derive a simple phenomenological formula for the Nernst coefficient, which naturally explains the giant Nernst signal due to fluctuating Cooper pairs. The latter is shown to be large even far from the transition and may exceed by orders of magnitude the Fermi liquid terms. We also present a complete microscopic calculation (which includes quantum fluctuations) of the Nernst coefficient and give its asymptotic dependencies in various regions on the phase diagram. It is argued that the magnitude and the behavior of the Nernst signal observed experimentally in disordered superconducting films can be well-understood on the basis of the superconducting fluctuation theory.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Fluctuation spectroscopy of granularity in superconducting structures

We suggest to use `fluctuation spectroscopy' as a method to detect granularity in a disordered metal close to a superconducting transition. We show that with lowering temperature $T$ the resistance $R(T)$ of a system of relatively large grains initially grows due to the fluctuation suppression of the one-electron tunneling but decreases with further lowering $T$ due to the coherent charge transfer of the fluctuation Cooper pairs. Under certain conditions, such a maximum in $R(T)$ turns out to be sensitive to weak magnetic fields due to a novel Maki -- Thompson type mechanism.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Macroscopic quantum tunneling in "small" Josephson junctions in magnetic field

We study the phenomenon of macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in small Josephson junctions (JJ) with an externally applied magnetic field. The latter results in the appearance of the Fraunhofer type modulation of the current density along the barrier. The problem of MQT for a point-like JJ is reduced to the motion of the quantum particle in the washboard potential. In the case of a finite size JJ under consideration, this problem corresponds to a MQT in potential which itself, besides the phase, depends on space variables. Finally, the general expression for the crossover temperature T_0 between thermally activated and macroscopic quantum tunneling regimes and the escaping time tau_esc have been calculated.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Charged Snowball in Non-Polar Liquid

The problem of correct definition of the charge carrier effective mass in superfluid helium is revised. It is demonstrated that the effective mass $M$ of a such quasiparticle can be introduced without use of the Atkins's idea concerning the solidification of liquid He in the close vicinity of ion. The two-liquid scenario of the ''snowball'' mass formation is proposed. The normal fluid contribution to the total snowball effective mass, the physical reasons of its singularity and the way of corresponding regularization procedure are discussed. Agreement of the theory with the available experimental data is found in the wide range of temperatures.

cond-mat.other↗

Space-time dispersion of graphene conductivity

We present an analytic calculation of the conductivity of pure graphene as a function of frequency $ω$, wave-vector $k$, and temperature for the range where the energies related to all these parameters are small in comparison with the band parameter $γ=3$ eV. The simple asymptotic expressions are given in various limiting cases. For instance, the conductivity for $kv_{0}\ll T\ll ω$ is equal to $σ(ω, k)=e^{2}/4\hbar $ and independent of the band structure parameters $γ$ and $v_{0}$. Our results are also used to explain the known dependence of the graphite conductivity on temperature and pressure.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Weak localization effects in granular metals

The weak localization correction to the conductivity of a granular metal is calculated using the diagrammatic technique in the reciprocal grain lattice representation. The properties of this correction are very similar to that one in disordered metal, with the replacement of the electron mean free path $\ell $ by the grain diameter $d$ and the dimensionless conductance $g$ by the tunnelling dimensionless conductance $g_{T}$. In particular, we demonstrate that at zero temperature no conducting phase can exist for dimensions $D\leq 2$. We also analyze the WL correction to magnetoconductivity in the weak field limit.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Theory of fluctuations in a two-band superconductor

A theory of fluctuations in two-band superconductor MgB$_{2}$ is developed. Since the standard Ginzburg-Landau (GL) approach fails in description of its properties, we generalize it basing on the microscopic theory of a two-band superconductor. Calculating the microscopic fluctuation propagator, we build up the nonlocal two-band GL functional and the corresponding time-dependent GL equations. This allows us to calculate the main fluctuation observables such as fluctuation specific heat and conductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Electronic spectrum and tunnelling properties of multi-wall carbon nanotubes

We develop a general approach to calculations of the electron spectrum of metallic multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) with arbitrary number of coaxial layers. It is based on the model with singular attractive potential of equidistant conductive cylinders. The knowledge of one-electron spectrum allows to construct the corresponding Green function and then to calculate the entropy and density of states for MWNT. We analyze the tunnelling between the nanotube and normal metal electrode. The possibility of direct determination of one-electron density of states by measurements of the tunnelling conductivity at low temperatures is proved and the necessary restrictions on temperature are formulated. We discuss briefly the conflicting experimental observations of electronic properties of MWNT.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Strong vortex-antivortex fluctuations in the type II superconducting film

The small size vortex-antivortex pairs proliferation in type II superconducting film is considered for the wide interval of temperatures below Tc. The corresponding contribution to free energy is calculated. It is shown that these fluctuations give the main contribution to the heat capacity of the film both at low temperatures and in the vicinity of transition.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Effects of proximity to an electronic topological transition on normal state transport properties of the high-Tc superconductors

Within the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, the effects of the superconducting fluctuations on the transport properties above the critical temperature are characterized by a non-zero imaginary part of the relaxation rate gamma of the order parameter. Here, we evaluate Im gamma for an anisotropic dispersion relation typical of the high-Tc cuprate superconductors (HTS), characterized by a proximity to an electronic topological transition (ETT). We find that Im gamma abruptly changes sign at the ETT as a function of doping, in agreement with the universal behavior of the HTS. We also find that an increase of the in-plane anisotropy, as is given by a non-zero value of the next-nearest to nearest hopping ratio r=t'/t, increases the value of | Im gamma | close to the ETT, as well as its singular behavior at low temperature, therefore enhancing the effect of superconducting fluctuations. Such a result is in qualitative agreement with the available data for the excess Hall conductivity for several cuprates and cuprate superlattices.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Paraconductivity in Carbon Nanotubes

We report the calculation of paraconductivity in carbon nanotubes above the superconducting transition temperature. The complex behavior of paraconductivity depending upon the tube radius, temperature and magnetic field strength is analyzed. The results are qualitatively compared with recent experimental observations in carbon nanotubes of an inherent transition to the superconducting state and pronounced thermodynamic fluctuations above $T_{c}$. The application of our results to single-wall and multi-wall carbon nanotubes as well as ropes of nanotubes is discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Effects of an electronic topological transition for anisotropic low-dimensional superconductors

We study the superconducting properties of a two-dimensional superconductor in the proximity to an electronic topological transition (ETT). In contrast to the 3D case, we find that the superconducting gap at T=0, the critical temperature Tc, and the impurity scattering rate are characterized by a nonmonotonic behavior, with maxima occurring close to the ETT. We derive analytical expressions for the value of such maxima both in the s-wave and in the d-wave case. Such expressions are in good qualitative agreement with the phenomenological trend recently observed for Tc^max as a function of the hopping ratio t'/t across several cuprate compounds. We further analyze the effect of an ETT on the Ginzburg-Landau stiffness eta. Instead of vanishing at the ETT, as could be expected, thus giving rise to an increase of the fluctuation effects, in the case of momentum-independent electron-electron interaction, we find eta different from 0, as a result of an integration over the whole Fermi surface.

cond-mat.supr-con↗