Abrikosov's solution of the linearized Ginzburg-Landau theory describing a periodic lattice of vortex lines in type-II superconductors at large inductions, is generalized to non-periodic vortex arrangements, e.g., to lattices with a vacancy surrounded by relaxing vortices and to periodically distorted lattices that are needed in the nonlocal theory of elasticity of the vortex lattice. Generalizations to lower magnetic inductions and to three-dimensional arrangements of curved vortex lines are also given. Finally, it is shown how the periodic vortex lattice can be computed for bulk superconductors and for thick and thin films in a perpendicular field for all inductions B and Ginzburg-Landau parameters kappa.
We have extended Brandt's method for accurate, efficient calculations within Ginzburg-Landau theory for periodic vortex lattices at arbitrary mean induction to lattices of "doubly quantized" vortices.
We formulate the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, with the assumption of local equilibrium made in the reference frame floating with normal electrons. This theory with floating nucleation kernel is applied to the far infrared (FIR) conductivity in the Abrikosov vortex lattice. It yields better agreement with recent experimental data [PRB {\bf 79}, 174525 (2009)] than the customary time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory.
Taking into account both the orbital and the paramagnetic depairing effects we derive a simple analytic formula for the temperature dependence of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter valid in vicinity of field dependent critical temperature in a type-II superconductor.
The vortex-vortex interaction potential in bulk superconductors is calculated within the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory and is obtained from a numerical solution of a set of two coupled non-linear GL differential equations for the vector potential and the superconducting order parameter, where the merger of vortices into a giant vortex is allowed. Further, the interaction potentials between a vortex and a giant vortex and between a vortex and an antivortex are obtained for both type-I and type-II superconductors. Our numerical results agree asymptotically with the analytical expressions for large…
We study two superconducting systems using the Landau-Ginzburg equations. The first is a superconducting half-space with an applied magnetic field parallel to the surface. We calculate the maximum applied field that still supports superconductivity in the material by solving the Landau-Ginzburg equations analytically in asymptotic regimes of the Landau-Ginzburg parameter, kappa. These results are then checked against numerical studies. The other system is a thin, current-carrying strip. Here we do the first systematic study of nucleation of superconductivity in a normal strip and of the motion…
The Landau potential in the general Ginzburg-Landau theory with two order parameters and all possible quadratic and quartic terms cannot be minimized with the straightforward algebra. Here, a geometric approach is presented that circumvents this computational difficulty and allows one to get insight into many properties of the model in the mean-field approximation.
Using the Ginzburg-Landau theory extended to the next-to-leading order we determine numerically the healing lengths of the two order parameters at the two-gap superconductor/normal metal interface. We demonstrate on several examples that those can be significantly different even in the strict domain of applicability of the Ginzburg-Landau theory. This justifies the use of this theory to describe relevant physics of two-gap superconductors, distinguishing them from their single-gap counterparts. The calculational degree of complexity increases only slightly with respect to the conventional Ginz…
The N-vortex solutions to the two-dimensional Ginzburg - Landau equations for the kappa=1/\sqrt(2) parameter are built. The exact solutions are derived for the vortices with large numbers of the magnetic flux quanta. The size of vortex core is supposed to be much greater than the magnetic field penetration depth. In this limiting case the problem is reduced to the determination of vortex core shape. The corresponding nonlinear boundary problem is solved by means of the methods of the theory of analytic functions.
Long-standing discrepancies within determinations of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter $κ$ from supercritical field measurements on superconducting microspheres are reexamined. The discrepancy in tin is shown to result from differing methods of analyses, whereas the discrepancy in indium is a consequence of significantly differing experimental results. The reanalyses however confirms the lower $κ$ determinations to within experimental uncertainties.
In this paper, we provide the different types of bifurcation diagrams for a superconducting cylinder placed in a magnetic field along the direction of the axis of the cylinder. The computation is based on the numerical solutions of the Ginzburg-Landau model by the finite element method. The response of the material depends on the values of the exterior field, the Ginzburg-Landau parameter and the size of the domain. The solution branches in the different regions of the bifurcation diagrams are analyzed and open mathematical problems are mentioned.
Based on a two dimensional odd-parity superconducting order parameter for Sr_2RuO_4 with p-wave symmetry, we investigate the single vortex and vortex lattice structure of the mixed phase near H_{c1}. Ginzburg-Landau calculations for a single vortex show a fourfold structure with an orientation depending on the microscopic Fermi surface properties. The corresponding extended London theory is developed to determine the vortex lattice structure and we find near H_{c1} a centered rectangular vortex lattice. As the field is increased from H_{c1} this lattice continuously deforms until a square vort…
We analyze the rhombic to square vortex lattice phase transition in anisotropic superconductors using a variant of Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory. The mean-field phase diagram is determined to second order in the anisotropy parameter, and shows a reorientation transition of the square vortex lattice with respect to the crystal lattice. We then derive the long-wavelength elastic moduli of the lattices, and use them to show that thermal fluctuations produce a reentrant rhombic to square lattice transition line, similar to recent studies which used a nonlocal London model.
The quantization of magnetic flux in superconductors is usually seen as vortices penetrating the sample. While vortices are unstable in bulk type I superconductors, restricting the superconductor causes a variety of vortex structures to appear. We present a systematic study of giant vortex states in type I superconductors obtained by numerically solving the Ginzburg-Landau equations. The size of the vortices is seen to increase with decreasing film thickness. In type I superconductors, giant vortices appear at intermediate thicknesses but they do not form a well-defined vortex lattice. In the …
Within the Ginzburg-Landau theory we consider Abrikosov vortex pinning on a columnar defect with the characteristic size of the cross-section much smaller than the coherence length. We present an extension of the electrostatic analogies method, which proved to be useful for calculations of the pinning force for large cavities, to the case of small defects. The pinning potential for an elliptic cavity is derived analytically. Also, we determine the depinning current for a circular defect.
The magnetization curves M(H) for ideal type-II superconductors and the maximum, minimum, and saddle point magnetic fields of the vortex lattice are calculated from Ginzburg-Landau theory for the entire ranges of applied magnetic fields Hc1 <= H < Hc2 or inductions 0 <= B < Hc2 and Ginzburg-Landau parameters sqrt(1/2) <= kappa <= 1000. Results for the triangular and square flux-line lattices are compared with the results of the circular cell approximation. The exact magnetic field B(x,y) and magnetization M(H, kappa) are compared with often used approximate expressions, some of which deviate c…
Motivated by recent experimental progress in the critical regime of high-$T_c$ superconductors we show how the tricritical point in a superconductor can be derived from the Ginzburg-Landau theory as a consequence of vortex fluctuations. Our derivation explains why usual renormalization group arguments always produce a first-order transition, in contrast to experimental evidence and Monte Carlo simulations.
We succeed to build up a straightforward theoretical model for spin-triplet p-wave superconductors by introducing in Ginzburg-Landau theory a second order parameter and a suitable interaction between the two mean fields.
Under holographic prescription for Schwinger-Keldysh closed time contour for non-equilibrium system, we consider fluctuation effect of the order parameter in a holographic superconductor model. Near the critical point, we derive the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau effective action governing dynamics of the fluctuating order parameter. In a semi-analytical approach, the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau action is computed up to quartic order of the fluctuating order parameter, and first order in time derivative.
The Ginzburg-Landau theory of a trapped Fermi gas with a BEC-BCS crossover is derived by the path-integral method. In addition to the standard Ginzburg-Landau equation, a second equation describing the total atom density is obtained. These two coupled equations are necessary to describe both homogeneous and inhomogeneous systems. The Ginzburg-Landau theory is valid near the transition temperature $T_c$ on both sides of the crossover. In the weakly-interacting BEC region, it is also accurate at zero temperature where the Ginzburg-Landau equation can be mapped onto the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equa…
A boundary condition for the Ginzburg-Landau wave function at surfaces biased by a strong electric field is derived within the de Gennes approach. This condition provides a simple theory of the field effect on the critical temperature of superconducting layers.
In a recent paper we give the first rigorous derivation of the celebrated Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory, starting from the microscopic Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) model. Here we present our results in the simplified case of a one-dimensional system of particles interacting via a delta-potential.
New vortex solutions to the Landau-Ginzburg equations are described. These configurations, which extend the well known Abrikosov and giant magnetic vortex ones, consist of a succession of ring-like supercurrent vortices organised in a concentric pattern, possibly bound to a giant magnetic vortex then lying at their center. The dynamical and thermodynamic stability of these annular vortices is an important open issue on which hinges the direct experimental observation of such configurations. Nevertheless, annular vortices should affect indirectly specific dynamic properties of mesoscopic superc…
We give a straightforward generalization of the Ginzburg-Landau theory for superconductors where the scalar phase field is replaced by an antisymmetric Kalb-Ramond field. We predict that at very low temperatures, where quantum phase effects are expected to play a significant role, the presence of vortices destroys superconductivity.
Time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model with noise for neutral s-wave superconductor is derived from real-time finite-temperature quantum field theory by integrating over fermions in the density matrix propagator. Quantum decoherence due to environment of pair breaking fluctuations is identified. Dynamics is described by Langevin equation in the near critical regime and by a nonlinear Schrodinger equation at zero temperature.