Electromagnetic absorption in anisotropic superconductors

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.40.6695· OSTI ID:5397804

Hirschfeld, P J ^[1]; Wolfle, P ^[2]; Sauls, J A ^[3]; Einzel, D ^[4]; Putikka, W O ^[2]

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1. Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4090 (US)
2. Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
3. Department of Physics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201
4. Walther Meissner Institut fur Tieftemperaturforschung, 8046 Garching, Federal Republic of Germany

We calculate the absorptive part of the frequency-dependent conductivity for a large class of anisotropic superconductors. The effect of nonmagnetic impurity scattering is included at the level of a self-consistent {ital t}-matrix approximation. It is found that low-frequency absorption (0{lt}{Omega}{lt}2{Delta}) takes place for any superconducting state with nodes of the energy gap on the Fermi surface. We demonstrate that the limiting low-frequency dependence of {sigma}({Omega}) on impurity concentrations can help to determine the structure of the order parameter in candidate systems such as heavy-electron compounds or high-{ital T}{sub {ital c}} superconductors. We also discuss how strong scattering, similar to that observed in ordinary superconductors doped with Kondo impurities, may lead to absorption with a threshold of {Omega}{approx equal}{Delta} rather than 2{Delta} as in quasiisotropic systems. Finally, we consider the contribution of order-parameter collective modes to the electromagnetic absorption, and show that this absorption may be substantial and depends sensitively on the impurity scattering rate.

• OSTI ID: 5397804
• Journal Information: Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA) Vol. 40:10; ISSN PRBMD; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

656100* -- Condensed Matter Physics-- Superconductivity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION
ANISOTROPY
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
IMPURITIES
INTERACTIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES