arXiv subjects

Seiji Higashitani

Publications and source records attributed to Seiji Higashitani.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Revisiting the surface density of states of midgap Andreev edge states

We revisit the effect of surface roughness on midgap Andreev edge states (MAES) in p- and d- wave superconductors. For a perfectly specular surface, MAES form a flat band at the Fermi energy, which manifests as a sharp midgap peak in the surface density of states (SDOS). Previous theoretical studies have shown that MAES in p- and d-wave superconductors respond markedly differently to surface roughness. In the d-wave state, diffuse surface scattering significantly broadens the midgap peak in the SDOS, accompanied by the emergence of a V-shaped structure centered at the Fermi energy. In contrast, the midgap peak in the p-wave state remains robust against diffuse scattering. In this work, we clarify the physical origin of this contrasting behavior. A key aspect of our analysis is that the flat band in the d-wave state consists of two distinct types of MAES modes. We show that inter-mode diffuse scattering leads to substantial broadening of the midgap peak and to the formation of the V-shaped structure. By contrast, the robustness of MAES in the p-wave state arises from the presence of a single MAES mode in the flat band. These results provide new insight into the response of MAES to surface roughness.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Lifetime of edge modes at rough surfaces of chiral superconductors

We study the effect of diffuse surface scattering on the edge modes in two-dimensional chiral superconductors with time-reversal symmetry-breaking Cooper pairs, each carrying angular momentum $m \hbar$ ($m = 1,2,3, \cdots$). To elucidate the diffuse scattering effect, we formulate the inverse lifetime $Γ= \hbar/τ$ corresponding to the broadening of the surface density of states (SDOS) for the edge mode. This derivation uses random S-matrix theory, which allows us to describe the surface effect in a unified way from the specular to the diffuse limit within the quasiclassical theory framework of superconductivity. We find that $Γ$ in the chiral states with $m \geq 2$ is larger than that in the chiral $p$-wave state ($m = 1$) because of the multiple edge mode branches in former superconducting states (the number of which equals $m$). Diffuse scattering between the different branches causes a significant broadening of SDOS. In contrast, the edge mode in the chiral $p$-wave state is robust to diffuse scattering because only a single edge mode branch exists. We also discuss SDOS at the diffuse limit, where the description in terms of $Γ$ is not useful. The diffuse scattering effect on SDOS can be understood qualitatively in terms of destructive interference analogous to that caused by impurity scattering in unconventional superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Influence of diffuse surface scattering on the stability of superconducting phases with spontaneous surface current generated by Andreev bound states

We report a theoretical study on the phase transition between superconducting states with and without spontaneous surface current. The phase transition takes place due to the formation of surface Andreev bound states in unconventional superconductors. Based on the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity, we examine the influence of atomic-scale surface roughness on the surface phase transition temperature $T_s$. To describe the surface effect, the boundary condition for the quasiclassical Green's function is parameterized in terms of specularity (the specular reflection probability in the normal state at the Fermi level). This boundary condition allows systematic study of the surface effect ranging from the specular limit to the diffuse limit. We show that diffuse quasiparticle scattering at a rough surface causes substantial reduction of $T_s$ in the d-wave pairing state of high-$T_c$ cuprate superconductors. We also consider a p-wave pairing state in which Andreev bound states similar to those in the d-wave state are generated. In contrast to the d-wave case, $T_s$ in the p-wave state is insensitive to the specularity. This is because the Andreev bound states in the p-wave superconductor are robust against diffuse scattering, as implied from symmetry consideration for odd-frequency Cooper pairs induced at the surface; the p-wave state has odd-frequency pairs with s-wave symmetry, while the d-wave state does not.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Subgap in the surface bound states spectrum of Superfluid $^3$He-B with Rough Surface

Subgap structure in the surface bound states spectrum of Superfluid $^3$He-B with rough surface is discussed. The subgap is formed by the level repulsion between the surface bound state and the continuum states in the course of multiple scattering by the surface roughness. We show that the level repulsion is originated from the nature of the wave function of the surface bound state that is now recognized as Majorana Fermion. We study the superfluid $^3$He-B with a rough surface and under magnetic field perpendicular to the surface using the quasi-classical Green function together with random S-matrix model. We calculate the self-consistent order parameters, the spin polarization density and the surface density of states. It is shown that the subgap is found also under the magnetic field perpendicular to the surface. Magnetic field dependence of the transverse acoustic impedance is also discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Fermi surface effect on spontaneous breaking of time-reversal symmetry in unconventional superconducting films

We propose a mechanism that helps stabilize a superconducting state with broken time-reversal symmetry, which was predicted to realize in a d-wave superconducting film [A. B. Vorontsov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 177001 (2009)]. In this superconducting phase, the time-reversal symmetry breaking is accompanied by spontaneous breaking of the translation symmetry along the film surface. We examine how the normal-superconducting phase boundary in the thickness-temperature phase diagram of the film is modified depending on the Fermi surface shape. In particular, the nonuniform superconducting phase is found to substantially extend to a smaller thickness region in the phase diagram when the Fermi surface satisfies a nesting condition. We demonstrate this Fermi surface effect using a square-lattice tight-binding model.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Strong Anisotropy in Spin Suceptibility of Superfluid 3He-B Film Caused by Surface Bound States

Spin susceptibility of superfluid 3He-B film with specular surfaces is calculated. It is shown that, when the magnetic field is applied in a direction perpendiculr to the film, the suseptibility is significantly enhanced by the contribution from the surface bound states. No such enhancement is found for the magnetic field parallel to the film. A simplified model with spatially constant order parameter is used to elucidate the magnetic properties of the surface bound states. The Majorana nature of the zero energy bound state is also mentioned.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Rough Surface Effect on Meissner Diamagnetism in Normal-layer of N-S Proximity-Contact System

Rough surface effect on the Meissner diamagnetic current in the normal layer of proximity contact N-S bi-layer is investigated in the clean limit. The diamagnetic current and the screening length are calculated by use of quasi-classical Green's function. We show that the surface roughness has a sizable effect, even when a normal layer width is large compared with the coherence length $ξ=v_{\rm F}/πT_{\rm c}$. The effect is as large as that of the impurity scattering and also as that of the finite reflection at the N-S interface.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Collision Drag Effect on Propagation of Sound in Liquid ${}^3$He in Aerogel

Sound propagation in a Fermi liquid with impurities is studied using the Landau-Boltzmann equation and the result is compared with a recent experiment in liquid ${}^3$He in aerogel by Northwestern University group. The sound absorption calculated using the fixed impurity model is a few orders of magnitude larger than the experiment. We take into account the simultaneous motion of aerogel molecules and propose a model in which the momentum loss of ${}^3$He quasi-particles during the collisions with the aerogel is converted to a drag force that acts on the aerogel molecules. This collision drag model gives a reasonable description for the temperature and the pressure dependence of observed sound velocity and absorption.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗