Rectification and nonlinear Hall effect by fluctuating finite-momentum Cooper pairs

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that fluctuating finite-momentum Cooper pairs in helical superconductors significantly enhance nonlinear charge transport, providing a new way to probe noncentrosymmetric superconductivity through second-harmonic resistance measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized formulation of nonlinear paraconductivity that accounts for fluctuating Cooper pairs and reveals enhanced nonreciprocal transport in helical superconductors under magnetic fields.

Findings

Enhanced nonlinear paraconductivity in helical superconductors.

Observable nonreciprocal transport via second-harmonic resistance.

Potential as a probe for finite-momentum superconducting states.

Abstract

Nonreciprocal charge transport is attracting much attention as a novel probe and functionality of noncentrosymmetric superconductors. In this work, we show that both the longitudinal and transverse nonlinear paraconductivity are hugely enhanced in helical superconductors in moderate and high magnetic fields, which can be observed by second-harmonic resistance measurements. The discussion is based on the generalized formulation of nonlinear paraconductivity in combination with the microscopically determined Ginzburg-Landau coefficients. The enhanced nonreciprocal transport would be observable even with the cyclotron motion of fluctuating Cooper pairs, which is elucidated with a Kubo-type formula of nonlinear paraconductivity. Nonreciprocal charge transport in the fluctuation regime is thereby established as a promising probe of helical superconductivity regardless of the sample dimensionality. Implications on the other finite-momentum superconducting states are briefly discussed.