Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: The general properties of anisotropic superconductors with mesoscopic phase separation are analyzed. The main conclusions are as follows: Mesoscopic phase separation can be thermodynamically stable only in the presence of repulsive Coulomb interactions. Phase separation enables the appearance of superconductivity in a heterophase sample even if it were impossible in pure-phase matter. Phase separation is crucial for the occurrence of superconductivity in bad conductors. The critical temperature for a mixture of pairing symmetries is higher than the critical temperature related to any pure gap-wave symmetry of this mixture. In bad conductors, the critical temperature as a function of the superconductivity fraction has a bell shape. Phase separation makes the single-particle energy dispersion softer. For planar structures phase separation suppresses $d$-wave superconductivity and enhances $s$-wave superconductivity. These features are in agreement with experiments for cuprates.
Source: Physical Review B
Authors: V. I. Yukalov, E. P. Yukalova
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2013117532