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Title: Gapless superconductivity and string theory

Journal Article · · Nuclear Physics. B

Coexistence of superconducting and normal components in nanowires at currents below the critical (a "mixed" state) would have important consequences for the nature and range of potential applications of these systems. For clean samples, it represents a genuine interaction effect, not seen in the mean-field theory. Here in this paper we consider properties of such a state in the gravity dual of a strongly coupled superconductor constructed from D3 and D5 branes. We find numerically uniform gapless solutions containing both components but argue that they are unstable against phase separation, as their free energies are not convex. We speculate on the possible nature of the resulting non-uniform sate ("emulsion") and draw analogies between that state and the familiar mixed state of a type II superconductor in a magnetic field.

Research Organization:
Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0007884
OSTI ID:
1197892
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1454540
Journal Information:
Nuclear Physics. B, Journal Name: Nuclear Physics. B Vol. 887 Journal Issue: C; ISSN 0550-3213
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Netherlands
Language:
English

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