Thermodynamic properties of the phase transition to superconducting state in thin films of type I superconductors

TL;DR

This paper investigates how magnetic fluctuations influence the thermodynamic properties of the first order phase transition to superconductivity in thin type I superconductor films, providing numerical data for experimental validation.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of magnetic fluctuation effects on phase transition thermodynamics in thin films, including numerical predictions for aluminum.

Findings

Magnetic fluctuations affect free energy and latent heat.

Numerical data for Al films' order parameter jump.

Discussion on experimental observation possibilities.

Abstract

The effect of magnetic fluctuations on the free energy, the order parameter profile and the latent heat at the equilibrium point of the first order phase transition to superconducting state in thin films of type I superconductors is considered. The possibility for an experimental observation of the fluctuation change of the order of the superconducting phase transition is briefly discussed. Numerical data for the order parameter jump and the latent heat of Al films are presented for needs of experimental studies.