New Phases of High Temperature Superconductors in High Magnetic Field

TL;DR

This paper investigates the fluctuation behavior of high temperature superconductors in high magnetic fields, revealing a new charge-density wave phase of Cooper pairs that replaces the Abrikosov vortex lattice, with implications for disorder effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel low-temperature phase called SCDW in high magnetic fields, extending the Ginzburg-Landau theory to describe new fluctuation phenomena.

Findings

Landau level degeneracy enhances fluctuations

SCDW phase replaces Abrikosov vortex lattice in high fields

Disorder can restore the Abrikosov state

Abstract

Fluctuation behavior of high temperature superconductors in high magnetic field is studied within the Ginzburg-Landau theory. Landau level degeneracy of Cooper pairs enhances fluctuations which destroy the familiar Abrikosov vortex lattice for D=2,3. Instead, a charge-density wave of Cooper pairs (SCDW) is the new low-temperature phase of the theory. SCDW has no condensate, but differs from the normal state by a periodic modulation of the Cooper pair density. In presence of disorder, the Abrikosov state is revived and both superconducting and density-wave phases are possible.