Fractional Quantization of the Magnetic Flux in Cylindrical Unconventional Superconductors

F. Loder; A. P. Kampf; T. Kopp

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.047003

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Fractional Quantization of the Magnetic Flux in Cylindrical Unconventional Superconductors

F. Loder, A. P. Kampf, T. Kopp

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.047003 · Physical Review Letters

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Abstract

The magnetic flux threading a conventional superconducting ring is typically quantized in units of Φ0=hc/2e. The factor of 2 in the denominator of Φ0 originates from the existence of two different types of pairing states with minima of the free energy at even and odd multiples of Φ0. Here we show that spatially modulated pairing states exist with energy minima at fractional flux values, in particular, at multiples of Φ0/2. In such states, condensates with different center-of-mass momenta of the Cooper pairs coexist. The proposed mechanism for fractional flux quantization is discussed in the context of cuprate superconductors, where hc/4e flux periodicities were observed.

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