Finite-momentum superconductivity with singlet-triplet mixing in an altermagnetic metal: A pairing instability analysis

TL;DR

This paper investigates finite-momentum superconductivity in altermagnetic metals, revealing multi-channel pairing with mixed parity and singlet-triplet mixing, leading to a complex FFLO phase with novel properties.

Contribution

It demonstrates that altermagnetic spin-splitting induces finite-momentum pairing with mixed parity, expanding understanding of unconventional superconductivity in such materials.

Findings

Finite-momentum pairing occurs across multiple channels with mixed parity.

The FFLO phase exhibits a multi-component order parameter with singlet-triplet mixing.

Triplet pairing at zero momentum is suppressed at weak coupling and low filling.

Abstract

We analyze the pairing instability of an altermagnetic metal on a square lattice driven by an attractive nearest-neighbor interaction. This interaction enables multiple pairing channels, including even-parity extended $s$-wave and $d$-wave states, as well as two odd-parity $p$-wave channels. We verify that altermagnetic spin-splitting in the single-particle dispersion gives rise to finite-momentum pairing between electrons with unlike spins, in agreement with earlier predictions. Quite unexpectedly, this pairing typically emerges across multiple channels with mixed parity. Consequently, the resulting finite-momentum Fulde--Ferrell--Larkin--Ovchinnikov (FFLO) superconducting phase is expected to exhibit a multi-component order parameter featuring singlet-triplet mixing. We examine several forms of altermagnetism, specifically $d_{xy}$-wave and $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}$-wave altermagnetic couplings, and present the corresponding phase diagrams. Additionally, we investigate the triplet pairing between electrons with identical spins, and find that it consistently occurs at zero center-of-mass momentum and is unfavorable at weak altermagnetic coupling and low electron filling. The influence of on-site attractive interactions on mixed-parity pairing is also explored.