Dissipation-induced phase transitions in superconducting wires

TL;DR

This paper investigates how coupling a narrow superconducting wire to a metallic film can induce a quantum phase transition, enhancing superconductivity and affecting the wire's resistivity at zero temperature.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical analysis of dissipation-induced phase transitions in superconducting wires using renormalization-group and variational methods.

Findings

Prediction of a quantum phase transition to a superconducting phase with long-range order

Identification of critical points based on wire stiffness and coupling strength

Implications for the DC resistivity behavior of the wire

Abstract

We report on the reinforcement of superconductivity in a system consisting of a narrow superconducting wire weakly coupled to a diffusive metallic film. We analyze the effective phase-only action of the system by a perturbative renormalization-group and a self-consistent variational approach to obtain the critical points and phases at T=0. We predict a quantum phase transition towards a superconducting phase with long-range order as a function of the wire stiffness and coupling to the metal. We discuss implications for the DC resistivity of the wire.