Supercurrents and spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking by nonmagnetic disorder in unconventional superconductors
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Supercurrents and spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking by nonmagnetic disorder in unconventional superconductors. / Breiø, Clara N.; Hirschfeld, P. J.; Andersen, Brian M.
In: Physical Review B, Vol. 105, No. 1, 014504, 01.01.2022.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Supercurrents and spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking by nonmagnetic disorder in unconventional superconductors
AU - Breiø, Clara N.
AU - Hirschfeld, P. J.
AU - Andersen, Brian M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: ©2022 American Physical Society
PY - 2022/1/1
Y1 - 2022/1/1
N2 - Recently, a theoretical study [Z.-X. Li , npj Quantum Mater. 6, 36 (2021)2397-464810.1038/s41535-021-00335-4] investigated a model of a disordered d-wave superconductor, and reported local time-reversal symmetry breaking current loops for sufficiently high disorder levels. Since the pure d-wave superconducting state does not break time-reversal symmetry, it is surprising that such persistent currents arise purely from nonmagnetic disorder. Here, we perform a detailed theoretical investigation of such disorder-induced orbital currents, and show that the occurrence of the currents can be traced to the emergence of local (extended) s-wave order coexisting with underlying disordered d-wave pairing, making it favorable to generate local s±id regions. We discuss the energetics leading to such regions of s±id order, which support spontaneous local current loops in the presence of inhomogeneous density modulations.
AB - Recently, a theoretical study [Z.-X. Li , npj Quantum Mater. 6, 36 (2021)2397-464810.1038/s41535-021-00335-4] investigated a model of a disordered d-wave superconductor, and reported local time-reversal symmetry breaking current loops for sufficiently high disorder levels. Since the pure d-wave superconducting state does not break time-reversal symmetry, it is surprising that such persistent currents arise purely from nonmagnetic disorder. Here, we perform a detailed theoretical investigation of such disorder-induced orbital currents, and show that the occurrence of the currents can be traced to the emergence of local (extended) s-wave order coexisting with underlying disordered d-wave pairing, making it favorable to generate local s±id regions. We discuss the energetics leading to such regions of s±id order, which support spontaneous local current loops in the presence of inhomogeneous density modulations.
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.105.014504
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.105.014504
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85122435578
VL - 105
JO - Physical Review B
JF - Physical Review B
SN - 2469-9950
IS - 1
M1 - 014504
ER -
ID: 308327073