Universal relation between magnetic resonance and superconducting gap in unconventional superconductors

TL;DR

This paper uncovers a universal linear relation between magnetic resonance energy and superconducting gap across various unconventional superconductors, indicating a fundamental link between magnetic fluctuations and superconductivity.

Contribution

It demonstrates a universal linear relation between magnetic resonance energy and superconducting gap, spanning diverse materials and energy scales, suggesting a deeper connection in unconventional superconductors.

Findings

Universal linear relation Er ∝ 2Δ across materials

Relation holds from Mott-insulating to itinerant regimes

Challenges existing excitonic models of the resonance

Abstract

Unconventional superconductors such as the high-transition temperature cuprates, heavy-fermion systems and iron arsenide-based compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic fluctuations that are dominated by a resonance, a collective spin-one excitation mode in the superconducting state. Here we demonstrate the existence of a universal linear relation, $Er \propto 2\Delta$, between the magnetic resonance energy (Er) and the superconducting pairing gap ($\Delta$), spanning two orders of magnitude in energy. This relation is valid for materials that range from being close to the Mott-insulating limit to being on the border of itinerant magnetism. Since the common excitonic picture of the resonance has not led to such universality, our observation suggests a much deeper connection between antiferromagnetic fluctuations and unconventional superconductivity.