Robust $s_\pm$-wave pairing in a bilayer two-orbital model of pressurized La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ without the $\gamma$ Fermi surface

TL;DR

This study reveals that La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ under pressure exhibits a robust $s_$-wave pairing symmetry driven by spin fluctuations, even without the $$ Fermi surface, highlighting a novel pairing mechanism.

Contribution

The paper constructs a new tight-binding model showing $s_$-wave pairing in La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ without the $$ Fermi surface, emphasizing the role of nested bands away from the Fermi level.

Findings

Superconductivity in La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ is characterized by $s_$-wave pairing symmetry.

The $$ and $$ bands away from the Fermi level contribute significantly to pairing.

Fermi surface approximated Eliashberg equations may mispredict pairing symmetry.

Abstract

We studied the superconducting pairing symmetry based on a newly constructed tight-binding model of La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ under pressure, where the $\gamma$ band sinks below the Fermi level and does not form the Fermi surface. The superconducting pairing symmetry is $s_\pm$-wave and is robust against the variation of the interaction strength. In this model, although the $\gamma$ and $\delta$ bands are away from the Fermi level, the superconducting pairing function on them is not tiny. Instead, since the top of the $\gamma$ band and bottom of the $\delta$ band are both located at $\sim$500 meV away from the Fermi level, and they are almost nested by the peak structure in the spin fluctuation, thus by forming an anti-phase pairing function on them, these two bands act constructively to superconductivity. Finally with detailed derivation and numerical calculation, we demonstrate that the Fermi surface approximated Eliashberg equation may lead to deviation of the pairing symmetry.