Reduction of Dissipative Nonlinear Conductivity of Superconductors by Static and Microwave Magnetic Fields

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical model for the nonlinear dissipative conductivity of s-wave superconductors under strong electromagnetic fields, providing analytical expressions and experimental validation for microwave surface resistance suppression.

Contribution

It introduces a closed-form theoretical framework for $\sigma_1(H)$ and $R_s(\omega,H)$ in the nonequilibrium dirty limit, explaining microwave suppression of surface resistance.

Findings

The theory predicts a minimum in $\sigma_1(H)$ at low fields.

Calculated $R_s(H)$ matches experimental data on Nb resonators.

Superimposed dc and ac fields can reduce microwave dissipation.

Abstract

A theory of dissipative nonlinear conductivity, $\sigma_1(\omega,H)$, of s-wave superconductors under strong electromagnetic fields at low temperatures is proposed. Closed-form expressions for $\sigma_1(H)$ and the surface resistance $R_s(\omega,H)$ are obtained in the nonequilibrium dirty limit for which $\sigma_1(H)$ has a significant minimum as a function of a low-frequency $(\hbar\omega\ll k_BT)$ magnetic field $H$. The calculated microwave suppression of $R_s(H)$ is in good agreement with recent experiments on alloyed Nb resonator cavities. It is shown that superimposed dc and ac fields, $H=H_0+H_a\cos\omega t$, can be used to reduce ac dissipation in thin film nanostructures by tuning $\sigma_1(H_0)$ with the dc field.