Mesoscopic phase separation in anisotropic superconductors

V. I. Yukalov; E. P. Yukalova

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.70.224516

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Mesoscopic phase separation in anisotropic superconductors

V. I. Yukalov, E. P. Yukalova

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.70.224516 · Physical Review B

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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.