Electronic transport in unconventional superconductors

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:350907

Graf, M J

The author investigates the electron transport coefficients in unconventional superconductors at low temperatures, where charge and heat transport are dominated by electron scattering from random lattice defects. He discusses the features of the pairing symmetry, Fermi surface, and excitation spectrum which are reflected in the low temperature heat transport. For temperatures {kappa}{sub B}T {approx_lt} {gamma} {much_lt} {Delta}{sub 0}, where {gamma} is the bandwidth of impurity induced Andreev states, certain eigenvalues become universal, i.e., independent of the impurity concentration and phase shift. Deep in the superconducting phase ({kappa}{sub B}T {approx_lt} {gamma}) the Wiedemann-Franz law, with Sommerfeld`s value of the Lorenz number, is recovered. He compares the results for theoretical models of unconventional superconductivity in high-{Tc} and heavy fermion superconductors with experiment. The findings show that impurities are a sensitive probe of the low-energy excitation spectrum, and that the zero-temperature limit of the transport coefficients provides an important test of the order parameter symmetry.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., Center for Materials Science, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Management and Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 350907
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--98-4082; CONF-980011--; ON: DE99002560
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
66 PHYSICS
BARIUM OXIDES
CHARGE TRANSPORT
COPPER OXIDES
FERMI LEVEL
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORDER PARAMETERS
PLATINUM ALLOYS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
URANIUM ALLOYS
WIEDEMANN-FRANZ LAW
YTTRIUM OXIDES