Superconductivity in crystals with spin-orbit coupling

The electron Bloch states in crystals with spin-orbit coupling do not always transform under symmetry operations in the same way as the pure spin-1/2 states. This has profound consequences for the gap symmetry and nodal structure of superconductors. Based on the generalization of the Ueda–Rice prescription for the Bloch bases in twofold degenerate bands, we develop the general symmetry classification of multi-band superconducting pairing in non-magnetic centrosymmetric crystals. For the intraband pairing, we identify four exceptional cases in which the triplet gap function does not transform under the point group operations as a pseudovector, with a significant impact on the nodal structure. For the interband pairing, we show that the conventional ([Formula: see text]-wave) gap functions can have such unconventional features as triplet components and odd parity. The [Formula: see text]-wave interband pairing can also be odd in momentum and have a triplet component.

Superconductors with spin–orbit interactions

The effect of spin-orbit (SO) interaction on the formation of the critical states in thin superconducting films in magnetic field oriented along the film is investigated. Hereby, the case of interband pairing is considered. It was found that eight branches exist in the plane of two parameters [Formula: see text] determined by the value of magnetic field and SO interaction. Six modes leads to inhomogeneous states with different values of the impulse [Formula: see text]. Each state is doubly degenerate over direction of impulse [Formula: see text]. The parameter values at critical point are found for all eight branches in explicit form for zero temperature. The optimal two branches are estimated, corresponding to largest critical magnetic field value for given SO interaction.

THE PSEUDOGAP IN MULTIBAND SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

The pseudogap (PG) excitation is analyzed as a natural event in multiband superconductivity. It corresponds to minimal quasiparticle excitation energy of an electron band not touched by the chemical potential. The critical points of the phase diagram are determined by vanishing conditions for normal state pseudogaps (NPG). For two bands (gapped or overlapping) these are positioned on edges of the superconducting dome. Theoretical background for a three-band system with two interband pairing channels is developed. There are three independent superconducting gaps (SCG). The PG is associated with the band component possessing a bare gap which can be quenched by doping. At low doping the PG and the SCG of another band component coexist. The critical point is not fixed in respect of the transition temperature (Tc) dome background. The depletion of the PG associated states is restored here. This effect can also be indirect by the participation of these states in determining the chemical potential position. At the critical point the PG looses its normal state contribution and continues as the SCG of the same band. Illustrative examples on the doping scale have been calculated.