Spin collective mode and quasiparticle contributions to STM spectra of d-wave superconductors with pinning

TL;DR

This paper explores how spin collective modes and quasiparticles influence STM spectra in d-wave superconductors, highlighting their coexistence and distinct contributions, with implications for understanding superconductor excitations.

Contribution

It provides detailed predictions of STM spectra considering pinning of spin modes and quasiparticles, emphasizing their combined effects in d-wave superconductors.

Findings

Modulations at twice the spin mode wavevector are predicted.

LDOS features depend on magnetic field and doping.

Spin modes and quasiparticles coexist as low-energy excitations.

Abstract

We present additional details of the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) spectra predicted by the model of pinning of dynamic spin collective modes in d-wave superconductor proposed by Polkovnikov et al. (cond-mat/0203176). Along with modulations at the twice the wavevector of the spin collective mode, the local density of states (LDOS) displays features linked to the spectrum of the Bogoliubov quasiparticles. The former is expected to depend more strongly on an applied magnetic field or the doping concentration. The spin collective mode and the quasiparticles are distinct, co-existing, low energy excitations of the d-wave superconductor (strongly coupled only in some sectors of the Brillouin zone), and should not be viewed as mutually exclusive sources of LDOS modulation.