arXiv subjects

B. Z. Spivak

Publications and source records attributed to B. Z. Spivak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Properties of two level systems in current-carrying superconductors

We show that in disordered superconductors, at sufficiently low frequencies $ω$, the coupling of TLS to external ac electric fields increases dramatically in the presence of a dc supercurrent. This giant enhancement manifests in all ac linear and nonlinear phenomena. In particular, it leads to a parametric enhancement of the real part of the ac conductivity and, consequently, of the equilibrium current fluctuations. If the distribution of TLS relaxation times is broad, the conductivity is inversely proportional to $ω$, and the spectrum of the equilibrium current fluctuations takes the form of 1/f noise.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Giant microwave absorption in the vortex lattice in $s$-wave superconductors

In this article we study microwave absorption in superconductors in the presence of a vortex lattice. We show that in addition to the conventional absorption mechanism associated with the vortex core motion, there is another mechanism of microwave absorption, which is caused by the time-dependence of the quasiparticle density of states outside the vortex cores. This mechanism exists even in the absence of vortex motion and provides the dominant contribution to microwave absorption in a broad interval of physical parameters. At low frequencies, the dissipative part of the microwave conductivity $σ(ω)$ is proportional to the inelastic relaxation time, $τ_{\mathrm{in}}$, which is typically much larger than the elastic relaxation time, $τ_{\mathrm{el}}$. At high frequencies $σ(ω)$ is proportional to the quasiparticle diffusion time across the inter-vortex distance, $τ_{\mathrm D}$, which is still larger than $τ_{\mathrm{el}}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Giant nonreciprocity of current-voltage characteristics of noncentrosymmetric supercondctor-normal metal-superconductor junctions

We develop a theory of nonreciprocal current-voltage (I-U) characteristics in noncentrosymmetric superconductor-normal metal-superconductor junctions. We show that at small voltages the nonreciprocal features of the I-U characteristics can be expressed entirely in terms of the dependence of the nonreciprocal part of the quasiparticle density of states in the normal metal part of the junction on the order parameter phase difference $χ$ across the junction. The amplitude of the nonreciprocity in this regime is proportional to the inelastic quasiparticle relaxation time $τ_{in}$, and can be much larger than that in normal materials, where it is proportional to the elastic relaxation time $τ_{el}$. At low bias the I-U characteristics possess additional symmetry, not present in normal conductors; they remain invariant under simultaneous reversal of current, voltage and the magnetic field.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Negative critical currents in single-channel Josephson junctions

We argue that negative critical currents arise generically in Josephson junctions formed by single channel conductors. Specifically, we theoretically study the Josephson coupling between two superconducting leads connected by a one-dimensional conductor in the Coulomb blockade regime. We show that in the clean regime the sign of the critical current alternates with the number of electrons in the normal region. For odd occupancy the critical current is negative even when the number of electrons on the conductor is large.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Current-voltage characteristics of superconductor-normal metal-superconductor junctions

We develop a theory of current-voltage (I-U) characteristics for superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) junctions. At small voltages and sufficiently low temperatures the I-U characteristics of the junction is controlled by the inelastic relaxation time, τ_{in}. In particular, the linear conductance is proportional to, τ_{in}. In this regime the I-U characteristics can be expressed solely in terms of dependence of the density of states in the normal region, ν(χ), on the phase difference of the order parameter across the the junction. In contrast, at large voltages the I-U characteristics of the device is controlled by the elastic relaxation time, τ_{el}, which is much smaller than the inelastic one.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Giant magnetoconductivity in non-centrosymmetric superconductors

We discuss a novel physical mechanism which gives rise to a giant magnetoconductivity in non-centrosymmetric superconducting films. This mechanism is caused by a combination of spin-orbit interaction and inversion symmetry breaking in the system, and arises in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field ${\bf H}_\|$. It produces a contribution to the conductivity, which displays a strong dependence on the angle between the electric field ${\bf E}$ and ${\bf H}_\|$, and is proportional to the inelastic relaxation time of quasiparticles. Since in typical situations the latter is much larger than the elastic one this contribution can be much larger than the conventional conductivity thus leading to giant microwave absorption.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Conductivity of superconductors in the flux flow regime

We develop a theory of conductivity of type-II superconductors in the flux flow regime taking into account random spatial fluctuations of the system parameters, such as the gap magnitude $Δ$(r) and the diffusion coefficient D(r). We find a contribution to the conductivity that is proportional to the inelastic relaxation time $τ_{in}$, which is much longer than the elastic relaxation time. This new contribution is due to Debye-type relaxation, and it can be much larger than the conventional flux flow conductivity due to Bardeen and Stephen. The new contribution is expected to dominate in clean superconductors at low temperatures and in magnetic fields much smaller than $H_{c2}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Giant microwave absorption in s- and d- wave superconductors

We discuss a new mechanism of microwave absorption in s- and d-wave superconductors, which arises in the presence of a dc supercurrent in the system. It produces a contribution to the ac conductivity that is proportional to the inelastic quasiparticle relaxation time. This contribution also determines the supercurrent dependence of the conductivity. It may significantly exceed the conventional contribution because in typical superconductors the inelastic relaxation time is several orders of magnitude longer than the elastic one. We show that the aforementioned contribution to the conductivity may be expressed in terms of the single particle density of states in superconductors in the presence of a dc supercurrent. Our results may enable determination of the inelastic relaxation time in superconductors from microwave absorption measurements.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Debye mechanism of giant microwave absorption in superconductors

We discuss a mechanism of microwave absorption in conventional superconductors which is similar to the Debye absorption mechanism in molecular gases. The contribution of this mechanism to the \emph{ac} conductivity is proportional to the inelastic quasiparticle relaxation time $τ_\mathrm{\mathrm{in}}$ rather than the elastic one $τ_{\mathrm{el}}$ and therefore it can be much larger than the conventional one. The Debye contribution to the linear conductivity arises only in the presence of a \emph{dc} supercurrent in the system and its magnitude depends strongly on the orientation of the microwave field relative to the supercurrent. The Debye contribution to the nonlinear conductivity exists even in the absence of \emph{dc} supercurrent. Since it is proportional to $τ_{\mathrm{in}}$ the nonlinear threshold is anomalously low. Microwave absorption measurements may provide direct information about $τ_\mathrm{in}$ in superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Photocurrents in gyrotropic Weyl semimetals

We present results of a theoretical study of photocurrents in the Weyl semimetals belonging to the gyrotropic symmetry classes. We show that, in weakly gyrotropic symmetry classes C$_{nv}$ ($n = 3,4,6$), the circular photocurrent transverse to the incidence direction appears only with account, in the electron effective Hamiltonian, for both linear and quadratic or cubic in quasi-momentum spin-dependent terms as well as a spin-independent term resulting in the tilt of the cone dispersion. A polarization-independent magneto-induced photocurrent is predicted which is also allowed in gyrotropic systems only. For crystals of the C$_{2v}$ symmetry, we consider a microscopic mechanism of the photocurrent in a quantized magnetic field which is generated under direct optical transitions between the ground and the first excited magnetic subbands. It is shown that this current becomes nonzero with allowance for anisotropic tilt of the dispersion cones.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Longitudinal negative magnetoresistance and magneto-transport phenomena in conventional and topological conductors

Recently a large negative longitudinal (parallel to the magnetic field) magnetoresistance was observed in Weyl and Dirac semimetals. It is believed to be related to the chiral anomaly associated with topological electron band structure of these materials. We show that in a certain range of parameters such a phenomenon can also exist in conventional centrosymmetric and time reversal conductors, lacking topological protection of the electron spectrum and the chiral anomaly. We also discuss the magnetic field enhancement of the longitudinal components of the thermal conductivity and thermoelectric tensors.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Klein tunneling and magnetoresistance of \textit{p-n} junctions in Weyl semimetals

We study the zero temperature conductance and magnetoconductance of ballistic \textit{p-n} junctions in Weyl semimetals. Electron transport is mediated by Klein tunneling between \textit{n}- and \textit{p}- regions. The chiral anomaly that is realized in Weyl semimetals plays a crucial role in the magnetoconductance of the junction. With the exception of field orientations where the angle between $\mathbf{B}$ and the junction plane is small, magnetoconductance is positive and linear in $B$ at both weak and strong magnetic fields. In contrast, magnetoconductance in conventional \textit{p-n} junctions is always negative.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Magneto-transport phenomena related to the chiral anomaly in Weyl semimetals

We present a theory of magnetotransport phenomena related to the chiral anomaly in Weyl semimetals. We show that conductivity, thermal conductivity, thermoelectric and the sound absorption coefficients exhibit strong and anisotropic magnetic field dependences. We also discuss properties of magneto-plasmons and magneto-polaritons, whose existence is entirely determined by the chiral anomaly. Finally, we discuss the conditions of applicability of the quasi-classical description of electron transport phenomena related to the chiral anomaly.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Anomalous Transport Phenomena in $p_x+ip_y$ Superconductors

Spontaneous breaking of time-reversal symmetry in superconductors with the $p_x+ip_y$ symmetry of the order parameter allows for a class of effects which are analogous to the anomalous Hall effect in ferromagnets. These effects exist below the critical temperature, $T<T_{c}$. We develop a kinetic theory of such effects. In particular, we consider anomalous Hall thermal conductivity, the polar Kerr effect, the anomalous Hall effect, and the anomalous photo- and acousto-galvanic effects.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Theory of disordered unconventional superconductors

In contrast to conventional s-wave superconductivity, unconventional (e.g. p or d-wave) superconductivity is strongly suppressed even by relatively weak disorder. Upon approaching the superconductor-metal transition, the order parameter amplitude becomes increasingly inhomogeneous leading to effective granularity and a phase ordering transition described by the Mattis model of spin glasses. One consequence of this is that at low enough temperatures, between the clean unconventional superconducting and the diffusive metallic phases, there is necessarily an intermediate superconducting phase which exhibits s-wave symmetry on macroscopic scales.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Electron transport in p-wave superconductor-normal metal junctions

We study low temperature electron transport in p-wave superconductor-insulator-normal metal junctions. In diffusive metals the p-wave component of the order parameter decays exponentially at distances larger than the mean free path $l$. At the superconductor-normal metal boundary, due to spin-orbit interaction, there is a triplet to singlet conversion of the superconducting order parameter. The singlet component survives at distances much larger than $l$ from the boundary. It is this component that controls the low temperature resistance of the junctions. As a result, the resistance of the system strongly depends on the angle between the insulating boundary and the ${\bf d}$-vector characterizing the spin structure of the triplet superconducting order parameter. We also analyze the spatial dependence of the electric potential in the presence of the current, and show that the electric field is suppressed in the insulating boundary as well as in the normal metal at distances of order of the coherence length away from the boundary. This is very different from the case of the normal metal-insulator-normal metal junctions, where the voltage drop takes place predominantly at the insulator.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Giant magnetoresistance in the variable range hopping regime

We predict the universal power law dependence of localization length on magnetic field in the strongly localized regime. This effect is due to the orbital quantum interference. Physically, this dependence shows up in an anomalously large negative magnetoresistance in the hopping regime. The reason for the universality is that the problem of the electron tunneling in a random media belongs to the same universality class as directed polymer problem even in the case of wave functions of random sign. We present numerical simulations which prove this conjecture. We discuss the existing experiments that show anomalously large magnetoresistance. We also discuss the role of localized spins in real materials and the spin polarizing effect of magnetic field.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2012

Dipolar bogolons: from superfluids to Pfaffians

We study the structure of Bogoliubov quasiparticles, 'bogolons,' the fermionic excitations of paired superfluids that arise from fermion (BCS) pairing, including neutral superfluids, superconductors, and paired quantum Hall states. The naive construction of a stationary quasiparticle in which the deformation of the pair field is neglected leads to a contradiction: it carries a net electrical current even though it does not move. However, treating the pair field self-consistently resolves this problem: In a neutral superfluid, a dipolar current pattern is associated with the quasiparticle for which the total current vanishes. When Maxwell electrodynamics is included, as appropriate to a superconductor, this pattern is confined over a penetration depth. For paired quantum Hall states of composite fermions, the Maxwell term is replaced by a Chern-Simons term, which leads to a dipolar charge distribution and consequently to a dipolar current pattern.

cond-mat.str-el↗