Intrinsic resistivity and the SO(5) theory of high-temperature superconductors

TL;DR

This paper explores a novel dissipation mechanism in high-temperature superconductors based on Zhang's SO(5) theory, calculating the resulting resistivity in thin wires through a modified Langer-Ambegaokar approach.

Contribution

It introduces a new dissipation mechanism linked to the topological order parameter structure in SO(5) theory and calculates its impact on resistivity.

Findings

Resistivity arises from orientation fluctuations of the order parameter.

The dissipation mechanism differs from amplitude fluctuation-based models.

Quantitative resistivity values are obtained for thin superconducting wires.

Abstract

The topological structure of the order parameter in Zhang's SO(5) theory of superconductivity allows for an unusual type of dissipation mechanism via which current-carrying states can decay. The resistivity due to this mechanism, which involves orientation rather than amplitude order-parameter fluctuations, is calculated for the case of a thin superconducting wire. The approach is a suitably modified version of that pioneered by Langer and Ambegaokar for conventional superconductors.