Magneto-Optics of type-II superconductors

TL;DR

This paper presents a unified theoretical model for the frequency-dependent magneto-optic response of type-II superconductors, explaining experimental infrared transmission observations in YBa2Cu3O7 thin films.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive framework combining vortex dynamics, core excitations, and pinning effects into a single conductivity tensor expression.

Findings

The model accurately describes observed magneto-optical activity.

It unifies various physical mechanisms affecting vortex behavior.

Experimental data from infrared measurements are well explained.

Abstract

The magneto-optical activity of superconducting ${\rm YBa}_{2}{\rm Cu}_{3}{\rm O}_{7}$ observed by Karrai {\it et al.} is not present in many commonly employed models of vortex dynamics. Here we propose a simple, unifying picture for the frequency dependent magneto-optic response of type-II superconductors at low temperatures. We bring together Kohn's theorem, vortex core excitations, and vortex pinning and damping into a single expression for the conductivity tensor. The theory describes magneto-optical activity observed in infrared transmission measurements of thin films of ${\rm YBa}_{2}{\rm Cu}_{3}{\rm O}_{7}$.