Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Rømer, Astrid T.

Publications and source records attributed to Rømer, Astrid T..

6 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Superconducting gap symmetry from Bogoliubov quasiparticle interference analysis on Sr 2 RuO 4

Here, the nature of the superconducting order parameter in Sr 2 RuO 4 has generated intense interest in recent years. Since the superconducting gap is very small, high-resolution methods such as scanning tunneling spectroscopy might be the best chance to directly resolve the gap symmetry. Recently, a Bogoliubov quasiparticle interference imaging (BQPI) experiment has suggested that the d x 2 –y 2 gap symmetry is appropriate for Sr 2 RuO 4 . In this work, we use a material-specific theoretical approach based onWannier functions of the surface of Sr 2 RuO 4 to calculate the continuum density of states as detected in scanning tunneling microscopy experiments. We examine several different proposed gap order parameters and calculate the expected BQPI pattern for each case. Comparing to the available experimental data, our results suggest that a s' + id xy gap order parameter is the most probable state, but the measured BQPI patterns still display features unaccounted for by the theory for any of the states currently under discussion.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Revisiting superconductivity in the extended one-band Hubbard model: Pairing via spin and charge fluctuations

The leading superconducting instabilities of the two-dimensional extended repulsive one-band Hubbard model within spin-fluctuation pairing theory depend sensitively on electron density, band, and interaction parameters. We map out the phase diagrams within a random-phase-approximation spin- and charge-fluctuation approach, and find that while B 1g (d x 2 –y 2 ) and B 2g (d xy ) pairing dominates in the absence of repulsive longer-range Coulomb interactions V NN , the latter induces pairing in other symmetry channels, including, e.g., A 2g (g-wave), nodal A 1g (extended s-wave), or nodal E u (p-wave) spin-triplet superconductivity. At the lowest temperatures, transition boundaries in the phase diagrams between symmetry-distinct spin-singlet orders generate complex time-reversal symmetry broken superpositions. By contrast, we find that boundaries between singlet and triplet regions are characterized by first-order transitions. Finally, motivated by recent photoemission experiments, we have determined the influence of an additional explicitly attractive nearest-neighbor interaction, V NN < 0, on the superconducting gap structure. Furthermore, depending on the electronic filling, such an attraction boosts E u (p-wave) spin-triplet or B 1g (d x 2 –y 2 ) spin-singlet ordering.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Superconductivity in multiorbital systems with repulsive interactions: Hund's pairing versus spin-fluctuation pairing

Hund's pairing refers to Cooper pairing generated by onsite interactions that become attractive due to large Hund's exchange J. This is possible in multiorbital systems even when all local bare interactions are repulsive, since attractions in specific channels are given by certain linear combinations of interaction parameters. On the other hand, pairing processes such as the exchange of spin fluctuations are also present. We compare mean-field Hund's pairing and spin-fluctuation-mediated pairing using electronic bands appropriate for different classes of multiorbital systems over a wide range of interaction parameters. We find that, for systems without clear nesting features, the superconducting state generated by the Hund's mechanism agrees well with that from the full fluctuation exchange vertex when Hund's exchange and spin-orbit coupling are sufficiently large. On the other hand, for systems characterized by a peaked finite-momentum particle-hole susceptibility, spin-fluctuation pairing generally dominates over Hund's pairing. From this perspective Hund's pairing states appear unlikely to be realized in systems like Sr 2 RuO 4 and generic iron-based superconductors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Superconducting state of Sr 2 RuO 4 in the presence of longer-range Coulomb interactions

The symmetry of the superconducting condensate in Sr 2 RuO 4 remains controversial after recent experiments overturned the dominant chiral p-wave paradigm.We perform a theoretical study of pairing by spin- and chargefluctuations in Sr 2 RuO 4 , including the effects of spin-orbit coupling, and both local and longer-range Coulomb repulsion. The latter has important consequences for Sr 2 RuO 4 due to the near-degeneracy of symmetry-distinct pairing states in this material. Here we find leading nodal s', d xy , and helical (p) solutions, while both the g- and d x 2 –y 2 -wave channels remain noncompetitive. This suggests nodal time-reversal symmetry broken s' + id xy or s' + ip phases, promoted by longer-range Coulomb repulsion, as the most favorable candidates for Sr 2 RuO 4 . We analyze the properties of these states and show that the s' + id xy solution agrees with the bulk of available experimental data.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Theory of strain-induced magnetic order and splitting of $T_c$ and $T_{\text{TRSB}}$ in Sr 2 RuO 4

The internal structure of the superconducting state in Sr 2 RuO 4 remains elusive at present, and exhibits evidence for time-reversal symmetry breaking. Recent muon spin relaxation measurements under uniaxial strain have revealed an increasing splitting between the superconducting critical temperature $T_c$ and the onset of time-reversal symmetry breaking $T_{\text{TRSB}}$ with applied strain. In addition, static magnetic order is induced by the uniaxial strain beyond ~1 GPa, indicating that unstrained Sr 2 RuO 4 is close to a magnetic quantum critical point. Here we perform a theoretical study of the magnetic susceptibility and the associated pairing structure as a function of uniaxial strain. In this work, it is found that the recent muon relaxation data can be qualitatively explained from the perspective of spin-fluctuation mediated pairing and the associated strain dependence of accidentally degenerate pair states in unstrained Sr 2 RuO 4 . In addition, while unstrained Sr 2 RuO 4 features mainly (2π /3, 2π /3) magnetic fluctuations, uniaxial strain promotes (π, ±π /2) magnetic order.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗