Momentum space imaging of the FFLO state

TL;DR

This paper proposes using STM quasiparticle interference imaging to directly visualize the FFLO state in superconductors, providing a potential experimental confirmation of its unique momentum space structure.

Contribution

It introduces a method to directly image the FFLO state's depaired Fermi surface components via QPI, advancing experimental detection techniques.

Findings

QPI spectrum reveals depaired Fermi surface features in FFLO state

Characteristic QPI signatures evolve with magnetic field strength

Method offers a direct way to confirm FFLO ground state wave function

Abstract

In a magnetic field superconductors (SC) with small orbital effect exhibit the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase above the Pauli limiting field. It is characterized by Cooper pairs with finite center of mass momentum and is stabilized by the gain in Zeeman energy of depaired electrons in the imbalanced Fermi gas. The ground state is a coherent superposition of paired and depaired states. This concept, although central to the FFLO state lacks a direct experimental confirmation. We propose that STM quasiparticle interference (QPI) can give a direct momentum space image of the depaired states in the FFLO wave function. For a proof of principle we investigate a 2D single orbital tight binding model with a SC s-wave order parameter. Using the equilibrium values of pair momentum and SC gap we calculate the spectral function of quasiparticles and associated QPI spectrum as function of magnetic field. We show that the characteristic depaired Fermi surface parts appear as a fingerprint in the QPI spectrum of the FFLO phase and we demonstrate its evolution with field strength. Its observation in STM experiments would constitute a direct proof for FFLO ground state wave function.