Vortex and disclination structures in a nematic-superconductor state

Daniel G. Barci; Rafael V. Clarim; N. L. Silva Júnior

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.94.184507

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Vortex and disclination structures in a nematic-superconductor state

Daniel G. Barci, Rafael V. Clarim, N. L. Silva Júnior

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.184507 · Physical Review B

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Abstract

The nematic-superconductor state is an example of a quantum liquid crystal that breaks gauge as well as rotation invariance. It was conjectured to exist in the pseudogap regime of the cuprates high-Tc superconductors. The nematic-superconductor state is characterized by two complex order parameters: one of them is related to superconductivity and the other one describes a nematic order. It supports two main classes of topological defects: half vortices and disclinations. In this paper we present a Ginzburg-Landau approach to study the structure of these topological defects. Due to a geometrical coupling between the superconductor and the nematic order parameters, we show that vortices are strongly coupled with disclinations. We have found a restoring force between vortices and disclinations that produces harmonic excitations whose natural frequency depends on the geometrical coupling constant and the superconductor condensation energy. Moreover, in a regime with high density of defects, we have found a structural phase transition between vortex-disclination lattices with different symmetries.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Formula	Reported Tc (K)	Pressure (GPa)	Type
La2-xBaxCuO4 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
La1.6-xNd0.4SrxCuO4 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
La2-xSrxCuO4 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown
YBa2Cu3Oy Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	—	Pressure not reported	unknown