Supercurrents and spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking by nonmagnetic disorder in unconventional superconductors

Clara N. Breiø; P. J. Hirschfeld; Brian M. Andersen

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.105.014504

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Supercurrents and spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking by nonmagnetic disorder in unconventional superconductors

Clara N. Breiø, P. J. Hirschfeld, Brian M. Andersen

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.105.014504 · Physical Review B

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Abstract

Recently, a theoretical study [Z.-X. Li et al., npj Quantum Mater. 6, 36 (2021)] 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.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Formula	Reported Tc (K)	Pressure (GPa)	Type
Sr2RuO4 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
UPt3 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown