Superconducting order parameter manifested in quasicrystals

TL;DR

This study explores how the superconducting order parameter behaves in a broad class of quasicrystals, revealing structural influences on superconductivity through theoretical modeling across different dimensions and configurations.

Contribution

It extends theoretical analysis of superconductivity in quasicrystals to various structures and dimensions, identifying conditions that enhance pairing and transition temperatures.

Findings

Qualitative features of the order parameter are preserved across dimensions.

Certain quasiperiodic structures support enhanced pairing amplitudes.

Transition temperatures vary with structural configurations and parameters.

Abstract

Recent discovery of the superconducting ground state in Quasicrystals (QCs) has opened up an exciting new avenue for superconductivity based on QCs. However, theoretical studies to date have largely focused on a limited subset of quasiperiodic structures. In this work, we broaden the scope by theoretically investigating the behavior of the superconducting order parameter (OP) across a wide class of aperiodic systems, including both generalized Fibonacci and non-Fibonacci QCs based on the attractive Hubbard model. We begin with a one-dimensional toy model, and for the generality of our findings, we extend our analysis to two-dimensional QCs. Remarkably, despite the increased dimensionality, the qualitative features of the OP remain largely preserved. By systematically analyzing models generated through various growth rules, we elucidate the influence of quasiperiodicity on the OP amplitudes. We study the evolution of the OP with respect to the temperature, strength of the interaction, and nearest-neighbor hopping amplitude. Our numerical analysis identifies the most favorable QC structure and parameter regime that supports enhanced onsite pairing amplitudes. Additionally, we provide a comparative analysis of the superconducting transition temperatures across the range of quasiperiodic configurations. To gain further insight into these systems, we compute key thermodynamic quantities: the entropy and electronic specific heat, and examine their dependence on the underlying structural sequences. This analysis enables us to determine which QC structures are most conducive to Cooper pair formation.