Power-law temperature dependence of the inelastic-scattering rate in disordered superconductors

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.43.3736· OSTI ID:5619158

Devereaux, T P; Belitz, D ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Materials Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403 (USA)

We present a theory of the quasiparticle inelastic lifetime {tau}{sub in} in disordered superconducting films. We find that both the Coulomb and the electron-phonon contribution to {tau}{sub in}{sup {minus}1} are enhanced by disorder, and that for reasonably strong electron-phonon coupling the latter is dominant. In contrast to clean superconductors, the scattering rate is larger than the recombination rate at all temperatures. This leads to a power-law temperature dependence of {tau}{sub in}{sup {minus}1}, in agreement with experimental observations. The theory quantitatively accounts for the magnitude, disorder dependence, and temperature dependence of {tau}{sub in} measured in recent experiments.

• OSTI ID: 5619158
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA) Vol. 43:4; 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
COOPER PAIRS
COULOMB FIELD
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON-PHONON COUPLING
FILMS
INELASTIC SCATTERING
LIFETIME
QUASI PARTICLES
RECOMBINATION
SCATTERING
SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE