The Physical Origins of the Meissner Effect and London Penetration Depth

TL;DR

This paper explains the physical origins of the Meissner effect and London penetration depth using a real-space theory, attributing both phenomena to dynamic charge stripes in superconductors, and clarifies their relation to electron density.

Contribution

It introduces a real-space quasi-one-dimensional charge stripe model to explain the Meissner effect and London penetration depth in all types of superconductors.

Findings

Both effects originate from charge stripes in superconductors.

The London penetration depth relates qualitatively to superconducting electron density.

The theory applies to both conventional and non-conventional superconductors.

Abstract

Based on the recent developed real-space theory of superconductivity (arXiv:0910.5511 and arXiv:1001.5067), we study the physical nature of the Meissner effect and London penetration depth in conventional and non-conventional superconductors. It is argued that they originate from an exactly the same reason of the real-space quasi-one-dimensional periodic dynamic charge stripes in the superconductors. The fundamental relationship between the London penetration depth and the superconducting electron density is qualitatively determined.