Quasi-particle dephasing time in disordered d-wave superconductors

TL;DR

This paper calculates the quasiparticle dephasing time in disordered d-wave superconductors using a non-linear sigma-model, addressing discrepancies between experimental thermal transport data and localization theory.

Contribution

It introduces a method to evaluate the low-temperature cutoff for quantum interference in disordered d-wave superconductors via the non-linear sigma-model framework.

Findings

Identifies the relevant quasiparticle interaction channels affecting dephasing.

Provides a theoretical estimate for the dephasing time in disordered d-wave systems.

Discusses implications for interpreting thermal transport experiments in cuprates.

Abstract

We evaluate the low-temperature cutoff for quantum interference 1/tf induced in a d-wave superconductor by the diffusion enhanced quasiparticle interactions in the presence of disorder. We carry out our analysis in the framework of the non-linear sigma-model which allows a direct calculation of 1/tf, as the mass of the transverse modes of the theory. Only the triplet amplitude in the particle-hole channel and the Cooper amplitude with is pairing symmetry contribute to 1/tf. We discuss the possible relevance of our results to the present disagreement between thermal transport data in cuprates and the localization theory for d-wave quasiparticles.