Symmetry of the Gap Function in High-$T_c$ Superconductors

TL;DR

This study uses numerical methods to analyze the symmetry of the superconducting gap in strongly correlated electron systems, finding evidence for odd-gap pairing and near competition with $d_{x^2-y^2}$ symmetry.

Contribution

It provides new numerical insights into the gap symmetry in high-$T_c$ superconductors using exact diagonalization of $t-J$ and Hubbard models.

Findings

Eigenvector analysis suggests a vanishing gap on the Fermi surface, supporting odd-gap pairing.

$d_{x^2-y^2}$ symmetry is a close competitor in the gap symmetry.

Results are based on exact diagonalization of small clusters in one and two dimensions.

Abstract

One of the most debated issues related to high-$T_c$ superconductivity is the symmetry of the Cooper pair or the gap function. In this report, we present numerical results regarding the gap function in strongly correlated electron systems using $t-J$ and Hubbard models in one and two dimensions. To this end, we use exact diagonalization to study the ground states of 8- and 16-site clusters consisting of single or coupled layers. We calculate a reduced two-particle density matrix in momentum space which is a measure of the gap function. We then analyze the eigenvectors of this density matrix, which display the possible Cooper pair symmetries. The eigenvector corresponding to the largest eigenvalue indicates a vanishing gap on the Fermi surface (which is in favour of odd-gap pairing) although $d_{x^2-y^2}$ symmetry is seen to be a very close contestant in many of the cases.