Superconductivity in carbon nanotube ropes: Ginzburg-Landau approach and the role of quantum phase slips

TL;DR

This paper develops a low-energy Ginzburg-Landau theory for superconductivity in carbon nanotube ropes, highlighting how quantum phase slips reduce the critical temperature and influence resistance.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model incorporating phonon, Coulomb, and Josephson interactions, and analyzes quantum fluctuations and phase slips in nanotube ropes.

Findings

Quantum phase slips depress the critical temperature below mean-field predictions.

Resistance emerges below the critical temperature due to quantum fluctuations.

The model captures the interplay of interactions affecting superconductivity in nanotube ropes.

Abstract

We derive and analyze the low-energy theory of superconductivity in carbon nanotube ropes. A rope is modelled as an array of ballistic metallic nanotubes, taking into account phonon-mediated plus Coulomb interactions, and Josephson coupling between adjacent tubes. We construct the Ginzburg-Landau action including quantum fluctuations. Quantum phase slips are shown to cause a depression of the critical temperature $T_c$ below the mean-field value, and a temperature-dependent resistance below $T_c$.