Nonlocal Conductivity in Type-II Superconductors

TL;DR

This paper investigates the wavevector dependence of dc conductivity in different phases of a type-II superconductor, revealing four distinct behaviors through theoretical analysis and phenomenological arguments.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the wavevector-dependent conductivity across various phases of type-II superconductors, including vortex liquid and lattice regimes.

Findings

Meissner phase: infinite conductivity at k=0, decreasing with k.

Vortex lattice: finite flux flow conductivity at k=0, discontinuous there.

Vortex liquid: non-monotonic conductivity, increasing then decreasing with k.

Abstract

Multiterminal transport measurements on YBCO crystals in the vortex liquid regime have shown nonlocal conductivity on length scales up to 50 microns. Motivated by these results we explore the wavevector ({\bf k}) dependence of the dc conductivity tensor, $\sigma_{\mu\nu} ({\bf k})$, in the Meissner, vortex lattice, and disordered phases of a type-II superconductor. Our results are based on time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) theory and on phenomenological arguments. We find four qualitatively different types of behavior. First, in the Meissner phase, the conductivity is infinite at $k=0$ and is a continuous function of $k$, monotonically decreasing with increasing $k$. Second, in the vortex lattice phase, in the absence of pinning, the conductivity is finite (due to flux flow) at $k=0$; it is discontinuous there and remains qualitatively like the Meissner phase for $k>0$. Third, in the vortex liquid regime in a magnetic field and at low temperature, the conductivity is finite, smooth and {\it non-monotonic}, first increasing with $k$ at small $k$ and then decreasing at larger $k$. This third behavior is expected to apply at temperatures just above the melting transition of the vortex lattice, where the vortex liquid shows strong short-range order and a large viscosity. Finally, at higher temperatures in the disordered phase, the conductivity is finite, smooth and again monotonically decreasing with $k$. This last, monotonic behavi or applies in zero magnetic field for the entire disordered phase, i.e. at all temperatures above $T_c$, while in