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Hikaru Ueki

Publications and source records attributed to Hikaru Ueki.

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Linear and nonlinear Edelstein effects in Rashba superconductors

We formulate a quasiclassical theory of the Edelstein effect in superconductors that incorporates both intraband and interband contributions. To describe the interband contribution, which is absent from the conventional leading-order quasiclassical formulation, we derive augmented Eilenberger equations in the presence of antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling. The intraband contribution is evaluated using multiband Eilenberger equations. We apply these formulations to supercurrent-induced surface spin magnetization in $s$-wave Rashba superconductors and investigate its dependence on temperature, distance from the surface, spin-orbit coupling strength, and supercurrent. The intraband contribution originates from a supercurrent-induced asymmetry of quasiparticles with opposite momenta and spin polarizations, whereas the interband contribution arises from the anomalous-velocity term generated by the momentum derivative of the Rashba spin-orbit potential. In the helicity basis, this anomalous-velocity term is expressed in terms of the Berry connection associated with the momentum dependence of the Rashba eigenstates. The intraband contribution increases linearly with the spin-orbit coupling strength, whereas the interband contribution exhibits a nonmonotonic dependence and is maximized when the Rashba spin splitting is comparable to the superconducting gap. Moreover, within the clean $s$-wave Rashba model considered here, we find that the nonlinear dependence of magnetization on the supercurrent arises solely from the interband contribution. Thus, although the intraband contribution dominates the linear Edelstein effect, the nonlinear Edelstein effect can serve as a useful probe of the interband contribution originating from quantum geometry.

cond-mat.supr-con

The Frequency Shift and Q of Disordered Superconducting RF Cavities

Niobium superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities for high energy accelerator applications have been greatly improved in terms of the quality factor $Q$ by techniques such as Nitrogen doping. However, the mechanisms leading improvement in $Q$ are still not fully understood. Quite recently the SRF group at Fermilab measured anomalies in the frequency shift of N-doped SRF Niobium cavities near the transition temperature. Here we report our theoretical analysis of these results based on the microscopic theory of superconductivity that incorporates anisotropy of the superconducting gap and inhomogeneous disorder in the screening region of the SRF cavities. We are able to account for frequency shift anomalies very close to $T_c$ of the order of fractions of a kHz. Our results for the frequency shift and Q are in good agreement with the experimental data reported for all four N-doped Nb SRF cavities by Bafia et al. We also compare our theory with an earlier report of on a Nb sample measured at 60 GHz. We also show that the quality factor calculated theoretically has a peak of upper convexity with the largest $Q$ at intermediate levels of disorder. For strong disorder, i.e. the dirty limit, pair breaking in the presence of disorder and screening currents limits the $Q$.

cond-mat.supr-con

Photon Frequency Conversion in High-$Q$ Superconducting Resonators: Axion Electrodynamics, QED & Nonlinear Meissner Radiation

High-Q superconducting resonators have been proposed and developed as detectors of light-by-light scattering mediated by the hypothesized axion or virtual electron-positron pairs in quantum electrodynamics - the Euler-Heisenberg (EH) interaction. Photon frequency and mode conversion is central to the scheme for detecting such rare events. Superconducting resonators are nonlinear devices. The Meissner screening currents that confine the electromagnetic fields to the vacuum region of a superconducting RF cavity are nonlinear functions of the EM field at the vacuum-superconducting interface, and as a result can generate source currents and frequency conversion of microwave photons in the cavity. In this report we consider photon frequency and mode conversion in superconducting resonators with high quality factors from Meissner currents in single and dual cavity setups proposed for axion and QED searches based on light-by-light scattering. In a single cavity with two pump modes photon frequency conversion by the Meissner screening current dominates photon generation by the EH interaction for cavities with $Q \lesssim 10^{12}$. The Meissner currents also generate background photons that limits the operation of the resonator for axion detection in three-mode, single cavity setups. We also consider the leakage of photons from pump modes into the signal mode for both axion and EH mediated light-by-light scattering. Photon frequency conversion by the EH interaction can compete with Meissner and leakage radiation in \emph{ultra-high-Q} cavities that are beyond current state of the art. Meissner radiation and leakage backgrounds can be suppressed in dual cavity setups with appropriate choices for pump and spectator modes, as well as the single-cavity setup proposed for heterodyne detection of galactic axion dark matter.

hep-ph

Effects of anisotropy and disorder on the superconducting properties of Niobium

We report results for the superconducting transition temperature and anisotropic energy gap for pure Niobium based on Eliashberg's equations and electron and phonon band structures computed from density functional theory. The electronic band structure is used to construct the Fermi surface and calculate the Fermi velocity at each point on the Fermi surface.The phonon bands are in excellent agreement with inelastic neutron scattering data. The corresponding phonon density of states and electron-phonon coupling define the electron-phonon spectral function, $α^2F({\bf p},{\bf p}';ω)$, and the corresponding electron-phonon pairing interaction, which is the basis for computing the superconducting properties. The electron-phonon spectral function is good agreement with existing tunneling spectroscopy data except for the spectral weight of the longitudinal phonon peak at $\hbarω_{\text{LO}}=23\,\mbox{meV}$. We obtain an electron-phonon coupling constant of $λ=1.057$, renormalized Coulomb interaction, $μ^{\star}=0.218$ and transition temperature $T_c=9.33\,\mbox{K}$. The corresponding strong-coupling gap at $T=0$ is modestly enhanced, $Δ_0=1.55\,\mbox{meV}$, compared to the weak-coupling BCS value $Δ_0^{\text{wc}}=1.78\,k_{\mbox{b}}\,T_c= 1.43\,\mbox{meV}$. The superconducting gap function exhibits substantial anisotropy on the Fermi surface. We analyze the distribution of gap anisotropy and compute the suppression of the superconducting transition temperature using a self-consistent T-matrix theory for quasiparticle-impurity scattering to describe Niobium doped with non-magnetic impurities. We compare these results with experimental results on Niobium SRF cavities doped with Nitrogen impurities.

cond-mat.supr-con

Electromagnetic Response of Disordered Superconducting Cavities

We present results for the resonant frequency shift and quality factor of disordered Nb SRF cavities driven out of equilibrium by the resonant microwave field. The theory is based on the nonequilibrium theory of superconductivity for the current response to the electromagnetic field at the vacuum-metal interface. We are able to accurately predict the observed frequency shifts with a precision of order several Hz over the full temperature range $0 < T \le T_c$, including the negative frequency shift anomalies that are observed very near $T_c$. The origin of these anomalies is shown to be the competition between the normal metal skin depth and the London penetration depth which diverges as $T\rightarrow T_c^-$. An analytic approximation to the full current response, valid for $|T-T_c|\ll T_c$, accounts for the negative frequency shift near $T_c$. The non-monotonic dependence of the quality factor on the quasiparticle scattering rate is related to the pair-breaking effect of disorder on the superfluid fraction, and thus the London penetration depth.

cond-mat.supr-con

Electromagnetic Response of Superconducting RF Cavities

Recently reported anomalies in frequency shift of order $δf\sim 0.1 -10\,\mbox{kHz}$ for Niobium SRF cavities in a narrow temperature region near $T_c\simeq 9\,\mbox{K}$ are sensitive to the surface preparation and Nitrogen doping. We developed methods for calculating the surface current response of Nb SRF cavities, as well as the resonant frequency shift and quality factor, as functions of temperature, frequency and disorder based on the Keldysh formulation of the theory for nonequilibrium superconductivity coupled with Maxwell's theory and boundary conditions for the response functions and electromagnetic field. We show that the anomaly is sensitive to impurity disorder. Our results for the anomaly in the frequency shift are in good agreement with experimental results for Nb with an anisotropic gap on the Fermi surface and inhomogeneous non-magnetic disorder. We also show that the quality factor as a function of the impurity scattering rate is maximum for in SRF cavities with intermediate disorder, $\hbar/τΔ\sim{\cal O}(1)$ with the maximum $Q$ decreasing with increasing frequency.

cond-mat.supr-con

Charging in the vortex lattice of type-II superconductors

We study the magnetic-field dependence of the vortex-core charge in the Abrikosov lattice of an $s$-wave superconductor based on the augmented quasiclassical equations, where we incorporate the pair-potential gradient (PPG) terms characteristic of charging in superconductors besides the well-known Lorentz force. Our numerical results at $T=0.2 T_{\rm c}$ and $0.5 T_{\rm c}$ reveal that periodic charge redistribution is superimposed on the magnetic flux-line lattice with different spatial patterns at different fields. The PPG terms are dominant at weak fields over the Lorentz force for accumulating charge in the vortex cores, whereas the Lorentz force prevails at higher fields to give rise to a peak structure in the core charge around $H\sim \frac{1}{2}H_{{\rm c}2}$. We estimate the peak value of the core charge at $T=0.2 T_{\rm c}$ using parameters appropriate for cuprates to obtain a large value of $Q \sim 10^{-2} |e|$ in the core region of radius $0.2 ξ_0$ in the $ab$ plane and length $1 \ {\rm nm}$ along the $c$ axis.

cond-mat.supr-con

Zero-Field Surface Charge Due to the Gap Suppression in $d$-Wave Superconductors

We perform a microscopic study on the redistribution of electric charge near the surface of a model $d$-wave superconductor cut along the [110] direction, with a Fermi surface appropriate for cuprate superconductors, using the augmented quasiclassical equations. We identify two possible mechanisms for the redistribution of charged particles different from the well-known magnetic Hall effect, namely; the pair potential gradient (PPG) force due to surface effects on the pair potential and the pressure difference between the normal and superconducting regions arising from the slope of the density of states (SDOS) in the normal states at the Fermi level. Our present results show that in spite of the absence of supercurrents, electric charge is induced around the surface. Moreover, the charging effect due to the SDOS pressure dominates over that due to the PPG force for all the realistic electron-fillings $n=0.8$, $0.9$, and $1.15$, at all temperatures. In addition, for the filling $n=1.15$, the PPG force and the SDOS pressure contributions have the same negative signs, which gives a larger total surface charge i.e., both the sign and amount of the surface charge depends greatly on the Fermi-surface curvature. We have also calculated the local density of states (LDOS) within the augmented quasiclassical theory. Spatially varying local particle-hole asymmetry appears in the LDOS, which suggests the presence of electric charge.

cond-mat.supr-con

Drastic enhancement of the thermal Hall angle in a $d$-wave superconductor

A drastic enhancement of the thermal Hall angle in $d$-wave superconductors was observed experimentally in a cuprate superconductor and in CeCoIn$_5$ at low temperatures and very weak magnetic field [Phys. Rev. Lett. $\bf 86$, 890 (2001); Phys. Rev. B $\bf 72$, 214515 (2005)]. However, to the best of our knowledge, its microscopic calculation has not been performed yet. To study this microscopically, we derive the thermal Hall coefficient in extreme type-II superconductors with an isolated pinned vortex based on the augmented quasiclassical equations of superconductivity with the Lorentz force. Using it, we can confirm that the quasiparticle relaxation time and the thermal Hall angle are enhanced in $d$-wave superconductors without impurities of the resonant scattering because quasiparticles around the gap nodes which become dominant near zero temperature are restricted to the momentum in a specific orientation. This enhancement of the thermal Hall angle may also be observed in other nodal superconductors with large magnetic-penetration depth.

cond-mat.supr-con

Phenomenology of the chiral $d$-wave state in the hexagonal pnictide superconductor SrPtAs

The pairing symmetry of the hexagonal pnictide superconductor SrPtAs is discussed with taking into account its multiband structure. The topological chiral $d$-wave state with time-reversal-symmetry breaking has been anticipated from the spontaneous magnetization observed by the muon-spin-relaxation experiment. We point out in this paper that the recent experimental reports on the nuclear-spin-lattice relaxation rate $T_1^{-1}$ and superfluid density $n_s(T)$, which seemingly support the conventional $s$-wave pairing, are also consistent with the chiral $d$-wave state. The compatibility of the gap and multiband structures is crucial in this argument. We propose that the measurement of the bulk quasiparticle density of states would be useful for the distinction between two pairing states.

cond-mat.supr-con

Possibility of chiral $d$-wave state in the hexagonal pnictide superconductor SrPtAs

We discuss the type of pairing in the hexagonal pnictide superconductor SrPtAs, taking into account its multiband structure. The topological chiral $d$-wave state with time-reversal-symmetry breaking has been anticipated from the spontaneous magnetization observed by the muon-spin-relaxation experiment. We point out in this paper that the recent experimental reports on the nuclear-spin-lattice relaxation rate $T_1^{-1}$ and superfluid density $n_s(T)$, which seemingly support the conventional $s$-wave pairing, are also consistent with the chiral $d$-wave state. The compatibility of the gap and multiband structures is crucial in this argument.

cond-mat.supr-con

Charging in a Superconducting Vortex Due to the Three Force Terms in Augmented Eilenberger Equations

We derive augmented Eilenberger equations that incorporate the following missing force terms: (i) the Lorentz force, (ii) the pair-potential gradient (PPG) force, and (iii) the pressure difference arising from the slope in the density of states (DOS). Recently, augmented Eilenberger equations with the Lorentz and PPG forces have been derived microscopically by studying the Hall and charging effects in superconductors, but the pressure due to the slope in the DOS has not yet been considered in augmented Eilenberger equations, despite phenomenological indications that it is a charging mechanism in a vortex of type-II superconductors. This newly added pressure is called "the SDOS pressure". We calculate the charging in an isolated vortex of an s-wave superconductor with a spherical Fermi surface using the augmented Eilenberger equations incorporating the Lorentz force, PPG force, and SDOS pressure. When we compare the charge densities due to the three force terms in the augmented Eilenberger equations, the vortex-core charging due to the SDOS pressure is larger than that due to the other forces near the superconducting transition temperature. Thus, when we calculate the charging in an isolated vortex of a superconductor with a finite slope in the DOS, we should consider not only the Lorentz and PPG forces but also the SDOS pressure.

cond-mat.supr-con

Charging due to Pair-Potential Gradient in Vortex of Type-II Superconductors

Besides the magnetic Lorentz force familiar from the Hall effect in metals and semiconductors, there exists a mechanism for charging peculiar to superconductors that is caused by the pair-potential gradient (PPG). We incorporate it in the augmented quasiclassical equations of superconductivity with the Lorentz force to study charging of an isolated vortex in an equilibrium s-wave type-II superconductor. It is found that the PPG mechanism gives rise to charging concentrated within the core whose magnitude at the core center can be 10 to 100 times larger than that caused by the Lorentz force. Our detailed calculations on the spatial, temperature, and magnetic-penetration-depth dependences of the vortex-core charge reveal that the PPG mechanism contributes dominantly to the core charging of the isolated vortex over a wide parameter range. The two mechanisms are also found to work additively at the core center for the present model with an isotropic Fermi surface.

cond-mat.supr-con

Hall Effect in the Vortex Lattice of d-Wave Superconductors with Anisotropic Fermi surfaces

On the basis of the augmented quasiclassical theory of superconductivity with the Lorentz force, we study the mag- netic field dependence of the charge distribution due to the Lorentz force in a d-wave vortex lattice with anisotropic Fermi surfaces. Owing to the competition between the energy-gap and Fermi surface anisotropies, the charge profile in the vortex lattice changes dramatically with increasing magnetic field because of the overlaps of each nearest vortex-core charge. In addition, the accumulated charge in the core region may reverse its sign as a function of magnetic field. This strong field dependence of the vortex-core charge cannot be observed in the model with an isotropic Fermi surface.

cond-mat.supr-con

Hall Effect in the Abrikosov Lattice of Type-II Superconductors

We study vortex charging caused by the Lorentz force on supercurrent based on the augmented quasiclassical equa- tions of superconductivity. Our numerical study on an s-wave vortex lattice in the range $H_{\rm{c}1} < H < H_{\rm{c}2}$ reveals that each vortex core with a single flux quantum also accumulates charge due to the circulating supercurrent and has a Hall voltage across the core. The field dependence of the charge density at the core center is well described by $H(H_{\rm{c}2}-H)$ with a peak near $H_{\rm{c}2}/2$ originating from competition between the increasing magnetic field and the decreasing pair potential. The peak value of the accumulated charge in a core region of radius $0.5ξ_0$ is estimated to be about $ηΔ_{0}/(k_{\rm F}ξ_0)\times|e|$ C per $Δz=1$ nm along the flux line at low temperatures, where $η\equivπε_0Δz/|e|^2=1.09\times10^{18}$ ${\rm{J^{-1}}}$ with $e<0$ the charge of an electron, $Δ_0$ the energy gap at $T=0$, $k_{\rm F}$ the Fermi wave number, and $ξ_0$ the coherence length at $T=0$.

cond-mat.supr-con

Vortex-Core Charging Due to the Lorentz Force in a $d$-Wave Superconductor

We derive augmented quasiclassical equations of superconductivity with the Lorentz force in the Matsubara formalism so that the charge redistribution due to supercurrent can be calculated quantitatively. Using it, we obtain an analytic expression for the vortex-core charge of an isolated vortex in extreme type-II materials given in terms of the London penetration depth and the equilibrium Hall coefficient. It depends strongly on the Fermi surface curvature and gap anisotropy, and may change sign even as a function of temperature due to the variation in the excitation curvature under the growing energy gap. This is also confirmed in our numerical study of high-$T_{\rm c}$ superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con