Transverse magnetic field and chiral-nonchiral transition in vortex states for nearly B//ab in chiral p-wave superconductors

TL;DR

This study uses Eilenberger theory to analyze vortex states in nearly parallel magnetic fields in chiral p-wave superconductors, revealing a transition from chiral to nonchiral states and explaining experimental detection challenges.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of vortex states and the chiral-nonchiral transition in nearly B//ab fields, highlighting the role of transverse fields and field orientation.

Findings

Transverse fields exist even for fields exactly parallel to ab plane.

The chiral-nonchiral transition disappears when the field tilts within 1 degree from ab.

The transition is difficult to detect experimentally due to sensitivity to field orientation.

Abstract

On the basis of Eilenberger theory, we study the vortex state when a magnetic field is applied nearly parallel to the ab plane in a chiral p-wave superconductor with a large anisotropy ratio of ab and c, as in Sr2RuO4. We quantitatively estimate the field dependence of the pair potential, magnetization, and flux line lattice form factor, and study the transition from the chiral p_- state at low fields to the nonchiral p_y state at high fields. Even for exactly parallel fields to the ab plane, transverse fields exist in the chiral state. The chiral-nonchiral transition disappears when the magnetic field orientation is tilted within 1 degree from the ab plane. This may be a reason why the experimental detection of this transition is difficult.