arXiv subjects

S. Kashiwaya

Publications and source records attributed to S. Kashiwaya.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Identification of Spin-Triplet Superconductivity through a Helical-Chiral Phase Transition in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ Thin-Films

Despite much effort for over the two decades, the paring symmetry of a Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ superconductor has been still unclear. In this Rapid Communication, motivated by the recent rapid progress in fabrication techniques for Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ thin-films, we propose a promising strategy for identifying the spin-triplet superconductivity in the thin-film geometry by employing an antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling potential and a Zeeman potential due to an external magnetic field. We demonstrate that a spin-triplet superconducting thin-film undergoes a phase transition from a helical state to a chiral state by increasing the applied magnetic field. This phase transition is accompanied by a drastic change in the property of surface Andreev bound states. As a consequence, the helical-chiral phase transition, which is unique to the spin-triplet superconductors, can be detected through a sudden change in a tunneling conductance spectrum of a normal-metal/superconductor junction. Importantly, our proposal is constructed by combining fundamental and rigid concepts regarding physics of spin-triplet superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Local impedance on a rough surface of a chiral $p$-wave superconductor

We develop a self-consistent approach for calculating the local impedance at a rough surface of a chiral $p$-wave superconductor. Using the quasiclassical Eilenberger-Larkin-Ovchinnikov formalism, we numerically find the pair potential, pairing functions, and the surface density of states taking into account diffusive electronic scattering at the surface. The obtained solutions are then employed for studying the local complex conductivity and surface impedance in the broad range of microwave frequencies (ranging from subgap to above-gap values). We identify anomalous features of the surface impedance caused by generation of odd-frequency superconductivity at the surface. The results are compared with experimental data for Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ and provide a microscopic explanation of the phenomenological two-fluid model suggested earlier to explain anomalous features of the microwave response in this material.

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arXiv2009

C-axis critical current of a PrFeAsO0.7 single crystal

The c-axis transport properties of a high-pressure synthesized PrFeAsO0.7 single crystal are studied using s-shaped junctions. Resistivity anisotropy of about 120 detected at 50 K shows the presence of strong anisotropy in the electronic states. The obtained critical current density for the c-axis of 2.9*10^5 A/cm^2 is two orders of magnitude larger than that in Bi2Sr1.6La0.4CuO6+d. The appearance of a hysteresis in the current-voltage curve below T_c is the manifestation of the intrinsic Josephson effect similar to that in cuprate superconductors. The suppression of the critical current-normal resistance (I_cR_n) product is explained by an inspecular transport in s_pm-wave pair potential.

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arXiv2008

Anomalous Transport through the p-Wave Superconducting Channel in the 3-K Phase of Sr2RuO4

Using micro fabrication techniques, we extracted individual channels of 3-Kelvin (3-K) phase superconductivity in Sr2RuO4-Ru eutectic systems and confirmed odd-parity superconductivity in the 3-K phase, similar to pure Sr2RuO4. Unusual hysteresis in the differential resistance-current and voltage-current characteristics observed below 2 K indicates the internal degrees of freedom of the superconducting state. A possible origin of the hysteresis is current-induced chiral-domain-wall motion due to the chiral p-wave state.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Switching Dynamics of Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+δ}$ Intrinsic Josephson junctions: Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling and Self-Heating Effect

The switching dynamics of current-biased Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+δ}$ intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) was studied to clarify the effect of d-wave superconductivity and the stack structure on the switching properties. High quality IJJs were fabricated, and then the temperature dependence of the switching probability distribution was measured for the first and second switchings. Although the standard deviation of the distribution detected for both switchings showed similar saturation characteristics with decreasing temperature, the temperature at saturation was about 13 times higher for the second switching than for the first switching. The properties of the first switching can be explained in terms of a conventional underdamped JJ, that is, macroscopic quantum tunneling below the crossover temperature, and thermal activation with quality factor of 70$\pm$20 above the crossover temperature. In contrast, the relatively higher effective temperature for the second switching evaluated from the switching probability distribution suggests a dominant thermal activation process under the influence of the self-heating effect even at sufficiently low temperature.

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arXiv2008

Possible observation of energy level quantization in an intrinsic Josephson junction

Energy level quantization (ELQ) is studied to clarify the macroscopic quantum dynamics of the d-wave Josephson junction (JJ). The influences of the nodal quasiparticles of d-wave superconductivity on the damping effect are numerically evaluated on the basis of a phenomenological model. The calculation, based on realistic parameters for a Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d (Bi2212) intrinsic JJ, shows that the observation of ELQ is possible when the sweep rate of the bias current exceeds 10 A/sec. High-sweep- rate measurements (121A/sec) performed on a Bi2212 intrinsic JJ result in the appearance of multiple peaks in the switching current distribution suggesting the realization of ELQ in the d-wave JJ.

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arXiv2006

Odd-frequency pairing and Josephson effect at superconducting interfaces

We demonstrate that, quite generally, the spin-singlet even-parity (spin-triplet odd-parity) pair potential in a superconductor induces the odd-frequency pairing component with spin-singlet odd-parity (spin-triplet even-parity) near interfaces. The magnitude of the induced odd-frequency component is enhanced in the presence of the midgap Andreev resonant state due to the sign change of the anisotropic pair potential at the interface. The Josephson effect should therefore occur between odd- and even-frequency superconductors, contrary to the standard wisdom. A method to probe the odd-frequency superconductors is proposed.

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arXiv2006

Enhancement of electronic inhomogeneities due to out-of-plane disorder in Bi_2Sr_2CuO_{6+delta} superconductors observed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Nanoscale electronic inhomogeneity in optimally doped single-layer Bi_2Sr_{1.6}L_{0.4}CuO_{6+delta}, (L-Bi2201, L=La and Gd) as well as bilayer Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+delta} (Bi2212), superconductors has been investigated by the low-temperature scanning-tunneling-microscopy and spectroscopy. The inhomogeneous gap structures are observed above and below Tc on Gd-Bi2201. Increasing the out-of-plane disorder which is controlled by mismatch of the ionic radius between Sr and Ln results in the enhancement of pseudogap region with suppressed coherence peaks in the conductance spectrum, making the gap average larger and the gap distribution wider. The degree of electronic inhomogeneity measured by the distribution width of the gap amplitude is shown to have a correlation with Tc in optimally doped Bi2201 and Bi2212.

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arXiv2006

Theory of tunneling spectroscopy in the Larkin-Ovchinnikov state

A theory of the tunneling spectroscopy of normal metal / Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) state is presented by fully taking account of the periodic modulation of pair potentials in real space. The resulting tunneling spectra have characteristic line shapes with several maxima and minima reflecting minigap structures due to the periodic pair potentials. These features are qualitatively different from tunneling spectra of Fulde-Ferrell state and those of uniform $s$- and d-wave superconductors. On the basis of calculated results, we propose a method to identify the LO state in actual experiments.

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arXiv2005

Anomalous features of the proximity effect in triplet superconductors

Anomalous features of the proximity effect specific to diffusive normal metal / triplet superconductor (DN/TS) junctions are studied within the quasiclassical Green's function formalism. The pair amplitude $f_{N}$ as a function of energy $ε$ in DN, satisfies an anomalous relation, $% f_{N}(ε)=-f^{*}_{N}(-ε)$, contrary to that in singlet superconductor junctions case where $f_{N}(ε)=f^{*}_{N}(-% ε)$. Such an unusual $ε$ dependence is responsible for a zero energy peak in the local density of states and is a source of an anomalous penetration of the applied magnetic field into DN. % Our results are relevant to Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$, which is considered to have a $p_{x}+ip_{y}$-wave symmetry.

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arXiv2005

Josephson interferometer in a ring topology as a symmetry prove of Sr_2RuO_4

The Josephson effect is theoretically studied in two types of SQUIDs consisting of $s$ wave superconductor and Sr$_2$RuO$_4$. Results show various response of the critical Josephson current to applied magnetic fields depending on the type of SQUID and on the pairing symmetries. In the case of a $p_x+ip_y$ wave symmetry, the critical current in a corner SQUID becomes an asymmetric function of magnetic fields near the critical temperatures. Our results well explain a recent experimental finding [Nelson et. al, Science \textbf{306}, 1151 (2004)]. We also discuss effects of chiral domains on the critical current.

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arXiv2004

Theory of proximity effect in normal metal/$d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave superconductor interface in the presence of subdominant components of the pair potentials

Superconducting proximity effect in normal metal (N) / $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave superconductor (D) junctions in the presence of attractive interelectron potentials which can induce subdominant s-wave pair potentials both in N and D sides, is studied based on the quasiclassical Green's function theory, where spatial dependencies of the pair potentials are determined self-consistently. In the N/D junctions with orientational angle with $θ= 0$, the s-wave component is induced in the N side by the proximity effect only for high transparent case, where the induced s-wave components in both the N and D sides do not break the time reversal symmetry (TRS). For fully transparent case, the resulting local density of states has a very sharp zero-energy peak (ZEP), the origin of which is the sign change of the pair potentials felt by the quasiparticles between the s-wave component in the N side and $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave dominant component in the D side through Andreev reflections. On the other hands, for $θ= π/4$, the subdominant s-wave component which breaks the TRS appears near the interface. Besides, for lower transparent cases, the subdominant imaginary s-wave component is also induced near the interface in the N side. The proximity induced s-wave component in the N side does not enhance the magnitude of the s-wave component of the pair potential which break the TRS in the D side. The resulting LDOS at the interface has the ZEP or its splitting depending on the transparency of the junction.

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arXiv2004

Theory of enhanced proximity effect by mid gap Andreev resonant state in diffusive normal metal / triplet superconductor junctions

Enhanced proximity effect by mid gap Andreev resonant state (MARS) in a diffusive normal metal / insulator / triplet superconductor (DN/TS) junction is studied based on the Keldysh-Nambu quasiclassical Green's function formalism. By choosing a p-wave superconductor as a typical example of TS, conductance of the junction and the spatial variation of quasiparticle local density of states (LDOS) in DN are calculated as the function of the magnitudes of the resistance $R_{d}$, Thouless energy in DN and the transparency of the insulating barrier. The resulting conductance spectrum has a zero bias conductance peak (ZBCP) and LDOS has a zero energy peak (ZEP) except for $α= π/2$ $(0 \leq α\leq π/2)$, where $α$ denotes the angle between the lobe direction of the p-wave pair potential to the normal to the interface. These peaks are revealed to be suppressed by applying a magnetic field. When the magnitude of $R_{d}/R_{0}$ is sufficiently large, the total zero voltage resistance of the junction is almost independent of the $R_{d}$ for $α\neq π/2$. The extreme case is $α=0$, where total zero voltage resistance is always $R_{0}/2$. Based on these results, a crucial test to identify triplet pairing superconductors based on tunneling experiments is proposed.

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arXiv2004

Theory of charge transport in diffusive normal metal / unconventional singlet superconductor contacts

We analyze the transport properties of contacts between unconventional superconductor and normal diffusive metal in the framework of the extended circuit theory. We obtain a general boundary condition for the Keldysh-Nambu Green's functions at the interface that is valid for arbitrary transparencies of the interface. This allows us to investigate the voltage-dependent conductance (conductance spectrum) of a diffusive normal metal (DN)/ unconventional singlet superconductor junction in both ballistic and diffusive cases. For d-wave superconductor, we calculate conductance spectra numerically for different orientations of the junctions, resistances, Thouless energies in DN, and transparencies of the interface. We demonstrate that conductance spectra exhibit a variety of features including a $V$-shaped gap-like structure, zero bias conductance peak (ZBCP) and zero bias conductance dip (ZBCD). We show that two distinct mechanisms: (i) coherent Andreev reflection (CAR) in DN and (ii) formation of midgap Andreev bound state (MABS) at the interface of d-wave superconductors, are responsible for ZBCP, their relative importance being dependent on the angle $α$ between the interface normal and the crystal axis of d-wave superconductors. For $α=0$, the ZBCP is due to CAR in the junctions of low transparency with small Thouless energies, this is similar to the case of diffusive normal metal / insulator /s-wave superconductor junctions. With increase of $α$ from zero to $π/4$, the MABS contribution to ZBCP becomes more prominent and the effect of CAR is gradually suppressed. Such complex spectral features shall be observable in conductance spectra of realistic high-$T_c$ junctions at very low temperature.

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arXiv2003

Split of zero-bias conductance peak in normal-metal / d-wave superconductor junctions

Effects of impurity scatterings on the conductance in normal-metal / $d$ wave superconductor junctions are discussed by using the single-site approximation. So far, the split of the zero-bias conductance peak has been believed to be an evidence of the broken time reversal symmetry states at the surface of high-$T_c$ superconductors. In this paper, however, it is shown that the impurity scattering near the interface also causes the split of the zero-bias conductance peak. Typical conductance spectra observed in experiments at finite temperatures and under external magnetic fields are explained well by the present theory.

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arXiv2003

Tunneling Spectra of Skutterudite PrOs_4Sb_{12}

The tunnel conductance in normal-metal / insulator / PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ junctions is theoretically studied, where skutterudite PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ is considered to be an unconventional superconductor. The conductance are calculated for several pair potentials which have been proposed in recent works. The results show that the conductance is sensitive to the relation between the direction of electric currents and the position of point nodes. We also show that the conductance spectra often deviate from the shape of the bulk density of states and that the sub gap spectra have peak structures in the case of the spin-triplet pair potentials. The results indicate that the tunnel conductance is a useful tool to obtain an information of the pairing symmetry.

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arXiv2003

Zero-bias conductance peak splitting due to multiband effect in tunneling spectroscopy

We study how the multiplicity of the Fermi surface affects the zero-bias peak in conductance spectra of tunneling spectroscopy. As case studies, we consider models for organic superconductors $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu(NCS)$_2$ and (TMTSF)$_2$ClO$_4$. We find that multiplicity of the Fermi surfaces can lead to a splitting of the zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP). We propose that the presence/absence of the ZBCP splitting is used as a probe to distinguish the pairing symmetry in $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu(NCS)$_2$.

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arXiv2003

Theory of charge transport in diffusive normal metal / conventional superconductor point contacts

Tunneling conductance in diffusive normal metal / insulator / s-wave superconductor (DN/I/S) junctions is calculated for various situations by changing the magnitudes of the resistance and Thouless energy in DN and the transparency of the insulating barrier. The generalized boundary condition introduced by Yu. Nazarov [Superlattices and Microstructures 25 1221 (1999)] is applied, where the ballistic theory by Blonder Tinkham and Klapwijk (BTK) and the diffusive theory by Volkov Zaitsev and Klapwijk based on the boundary condition of Kupriyanov and Lukichev (KL) are naturally reproduced. It is shown that the proximity effect can enhance (reduce) the tunneling conductance for junctions with a low (high) transparency. A wide variety of dependencies of tunneling conductance on voltage bias is demonstrated including a $U$-shaped gap like structure, a zero bias conductance peak (ZBCP) and a zero bias conductance dip (ZBCD).

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