T10KT

PROJECT

Workshop on Engineering Physics

Superconductivity
Dipan K. Ghosh

Superconductivity

Phenomenology of superconductivity
Thermodynamics of superconducting transition
London Equations
Elements of BCS Theory
Josephson effect
High Temperature superconductors

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

Phenomenology of superconductivity
History : In 1911, Kamerlingh Onnes found that
below 4.15o K, solid mercury suddenly loses its
resistivity.
Vanishing of D.C. resistance : Below a critical
temperature Tc, the d.c. resistance at zero
magnetic field vanishes. (This is verified to one
part in 1015. Above Tc, the d.c. resistance (at
H=0) is non-zero.
A.C. resistance remains zero up to a critical
2
frequency = ! .
!

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

Phenomenology
Meissner Effect Expulsion of magnetic flux. For a
!
perfect conductor,
!
B
E =

t
!

E
=
0,so!that!
B
= constant.
!

If we subject the metal in

the normal state to B and
cool it to T<Tc, the flux will
be expelled.
Superconductor is a perfect
diamagnet.
9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

Phenomenology
If the superconductor has a hole in it, ux can be
trapped in the hole. Such trapped ux is quanKzed in
units of hc/2e. The ux must be maintained by
persistent current.

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

Phenomenology

CriKcal Field : Meissner state exists for T<Tc, only if the

applied magneKc eld strength H<Hc. This is called
CriKcal Field.
T2
Hc (T ) = Hc (0) 1 2
Tc
!
For H>Hc(T) the system is
normal. Most elemental
superconductors, Hg, Pb,
Nb, Sn are type I
superconductors.
9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

Phenomenology
In Type II materials, there are two criKcal elds, Hc1 and Hc2.
For H< Hc1, there is ux expulsion and the system is superconducKng.
For H>Hc2, the system becomes normal. For Hc1<H<Hc2 , the system is
in a mixed state with parKal penetraKon of ux. The magneKc eld
penetrates the superconductor in the form of small tubes(vorKces)
whose ux must be quanKzed in units of hc/e*.

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

Phenomenology

Jump in Specic Heat : The specic heat of metals at low temperature is proporKonal to
T. In superconductors, there is an exponenKal decay in specic heat below Tc. In addiKon
At T=Tc, there is a jump in specic heat from its value in the normal state.

C v e /2kT !!for!T < Tc

!
The superconducKng state is an
ordered state, with low entropy. The
exponenKal form indicates an
energy gap. Typical energy gap is a
few meV.

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

Energy Gap

Temperature dependence of specic heat suggests existence of

an energy gap in its spectrum. The energy gap is the energy
Dierence between the ground state and the energy of the
lowest quasi parKcle excitaKon. BCS theory suggests ! = 1.76kT
c.

Gap has interesKng consequence in response to electromagneKc
waves. An incoming photon can be absorbed if energy and
momentum can be conserved. In this case h>2 because
a Cooper pair will have to be created.

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

Thermodynamics of phase transition

SuperconducKng transiKon is reversible. Consider Type I
superconductors with full Meissner eect. Gibbs free
energy per unit volume is G= U-TS-HM.
Change in U in the presence of a eld is dU= Tds+HdM

dG = SdT MdH
For!a!perfect!diamagnet!B = 0,!M = H

H 2
Gs (H) = Gs (0)+
2
!

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

10

Thermodynamics of phase transition

H 2
Gs (H) = Gs (0)+
2
!
For two phases to be in equilibrium, the Gibbs free energy is the same.

Hc2
Gn = Gs (0)+
2
G
S =
T H
Sn S s =
dHc
! dT
9/11/15

Hc dHc
2 dT

At T=Tc, Hc=0, no latent heat and hence

the transiKon is not of rst order. There
is a specic heat disconKnuity showing
the transiKon to be of second order.

<0

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

11

LONDON EQUATIONS- Two Fluid Model

All free electrons in a superconductor are divided into two groups:

Normal electrons with density nn and superconducKng electrons
Of density ns.

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

12

LONDON EQUATIONS- Two Fluid Model

n = n n + n s
j = jn + js
Normal!fluid!is!dissipative!but!the!super3fluid!satisfies
Newton's!law
!
!
jn = E
!
2
djs d
!
d ! ns e !
= (nv s ) = ns e v s =
E
dt dt
dt
m
!
! d(js )
m
E=
; =
dt
ns e2
!
9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

13

LONDON EQUATIONS- Two Fluid Model

!
!
H

E = 0 t
!
!
djs
H
( ) = 0
t
! dt!
H = js
!
!
d
H
( H) = 0
dt
t

!
!
0 !
2
( i H) H = H

!
!

m
2
2
H = (1/ L )H ; L =
=
0
0ns e2
!

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

14

LONDON EQUATIONS- Two Fluid Model

!
!
2

(
! H)
= (1/ )!H
js = (1/ 2 )( A)
!
!
2
j = (1/ )A
!s
The equaKon is wrijen in London Gauge in which

!
div!A = 0; An = 0
!

These are basically equaKon to conKnuity in the absence of a super-current

source and the fact that no super current can ow through the boundary
of a superconductor

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

15

LONDON EQUATIONS- Two Fluid Model

Consider
a s emi-innite

superconducKng slab lling x>0.

!
!
0
m0
2
2
H = (1/ L )H ; L =

ns e2

d 2H
2
=
(1/

)H
L
2
dx
H(x = 0) = H0
H(x = ) = 0
Solution!is
H(x)=H0e
!
9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

x/L

16

London Penetration Depth

H(x)=H0e
!

x/L

PenetraKon Depth of representaKve substances (in Angstroms)

Al: 500, Nb 470 Pb 390 Sn 510 YbCO : 1700

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DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

17

BCS Theory - Qualitative

SuperconducKvity
arises due to an eecKve ajracKve interacKon
between a pair of electrons. Electrons entering a region of metal
with typical velociKes can polarize ions. However, as their speed is
very large by the Kme the ions get polarized, it has moves away,
but allowing a second electron to lower its energy by the posiKve
charges.
This results in an eecKve interacKon between the electron pair
which is ajracKve. The role of phonons in the eecKve electron
interacKon was indicated by the presence of Isotope Eect

1
Tc
M
!

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

18

BCS Theory Cooper Pair

Cooper
w
orked
out the quantum mechanics of a problem in
which there is a lled Fermi sea. If two electron having an
ajracKve interacKon, however small, they were shown to be
in a bound state. The momentum of the pair can be taken to be
zero. The pair wave funcKon can be expressed as

! !
iki(r r )

(
r
,
r
)
=
u
e
k
1 2

k

u !even!:!cos(k i(r r ))
!

u !odd!:!sin(k i(r! r2 ))
!k

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

19

BCS Theory Cooper Pair

! !
iki(r r )
(r1 , r2 ) = uk e ! 2

uk !even!:!cos(k i(r! r2 ))

u !odd!:!sin(k i(r! r2 ))
!k
Only the even terms will allow two electrons to sit one over the other at the
origin. This makes the spin funcKons to be anK-symmetric, i.e. singlets

=
!

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

20

Josephson Junction
A thin
sandwiched between two superconductors.
l ayer
o f i nsulator

1. No voltage : A current is found in external circuit
2. D.C. voltage applied across the juncKon leads to current oscillaKon
i!

1
t
2

= !T 2

i!
= !T 1
! t

9/11/15

1 = n1 e

i1

2 = n1 e
!

i2

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

21

Josephson Junction

i1
1 = n1 e

2 = n1 e
!

i2

1
i n
= n11/2e 1 1 + i 1 1 = iT 2
t 2
t
t
2 1 1/2 i2 n2

= n2 e
+ i 2 2 = iT 1
t
t
! t 2

Multiply!first!by! n1 e

i1

and!the!second!with! n2 e

i2

1
1 n1
+ in1
= iT n1n2 e i
2 t
t
2
1 n2
+ in2
= iT n1n2 e i
2 t
t
= 2 1
!

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

22

Josephson Junction
n

1 1
+ in1 1 = iT n1n2 e i
2 t
t

1 n2
+ in2 2 = iT n1n2 e i
2 t
t
= 2 1
!

EquaKng real and imaginary parts

n1

= 2T n1n2 sin !!!!!!!!!!!!!

t
1

n2
t
1

= 2T n1n2 sin !!

!
= T n2 /n1 cos !!!!!!!
= T n2 /n1 cos !!
t
t
!
9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

23

Josephson Junction
n
1 = 2T
n n sin !!!!!!!!!!!!! n2 = 2T n n sin !!
1 2
1 2
t
1

t
1

!
= T n2 /n1 cos !!!!!!!
= T n2 /n1 cos !!
t
t
!
For idenKcal superconductors

n ! n2
! 1

( ) = 0
t 2 1
J = J0 sin
!

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

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Josephson Junction

J = J0 sin

= 2eV / !
t
(t ) = (0)(2eVt / !)
J = J0 sin( (0) 2eVt / !)
! = 2eV / !

9/11/15

DIPAN GHOSH, IIT Bombay

25