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Lecture 10

London theory describes how magnetic fields are screened in superconductors. It shows that currents flow on the surface of the superconductor due to the infinite conductivity below the critical temperature. This screening causes the magnetic field to decay exponentially with a penetration depth of around 10-100nm. The Meissner effect describes how magnetic fields are actively expelled from the interior of superconductors below the critical temperature due to the divergence of the vector potential if the field is present. There is a critical field strength above which superconductivity is destroyed.

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36 views10 pages

Lecture 10

London theory describes how magnetic fields are screened in superconductors. It shows that currents flow on the surface of the superconductor due to the infinite conductivity below the critical temperature. This screening causes the magnetic field to decay exponentially with a penetration depth of around 10-100nm. The Meissner effect describes how magnetic fields are actively expelled from the interior of superconductors below the critical temperature due to the divergence of the vector potential if the field is present. There is a critical field strength above which superconductivity is destroyed.

Uploaded by

Allie Ielan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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London theory

Once we accept that Cooper pairs form,

we can study their condensation the same


way we study BEC
(r) =

ns (r)ei(r) Pair wavefunction

Similar to superfluid, p = qA
The difference arises from the charge of
Cooper pairs

London Theory
This implies screening: check Maxwell eqns
Pairs: n *=n /2, q=-2e, m*=2m
Hence the current is

qns
ns e
j=
p=
m
2m

2e
+ A

This is often called the London equation


Use with Maxwell equation to describe
screening

London theory
Maxwell
B = 0 j

B = 0
j 2

ns e
2
( B) B = 0
A
m
1
B = 2B

m
ns e 2 0

1/2

These two equations describe screening

London theory

B
normal
B 0

B(x) = B(0)ex/

0
superconductor

is called London penetration depth


~ 10-100nm typically

Meissner Effect

The above argument suggests screening of magnetic


fields is due to currents which flow because of infinite
conductivity

If there was only infinite conductivity, then we would


expect that an applied field would not penetrate, but
that if we started an experiment with a field applied,
and then cooled a material from the normal to
superconducting state, the field would remain

This is in fact not true: magnetic fields are actively


expelled from superconductors

Meissner effect
Expulsion of an applied field occurs because
in the superconducting state, the field costs
free energy, i.e. is thermodynamically
unfavorable

Free energy
F =

2
2
p
B
eq 2
d3 r ns
+
a(n

n
s
s ) +

2m
20

Meissner Effect
F =

n
B
s
2
d3 r
| + 2eA|2 + a(ns neq
)
+
s
8m
20

gauge: we can always choose A


to cancel

F =

2
2

n
e
|B|
s
2
d3 r
|A|2 + a(ns neq
)
+
s
2m
20

key point: if B0, A must vary linearly with r,


which implies |A|2 diverges. Superconducting
kinetic energy becomes infinite!

Meissner effect
F =

2
2

n
e
|B|
s
2
d3 r
|A|2 + a(ns neq
)
+
s
2m
20

Instead, superconducting state expels the


field.

Eventually, if a large enough field is applied

to a superconductor, the superconductivity


is destroyed

Meissner effect
To estimate the critical field, we need to
compare the Gibbs free energy

G=

2
2

n
e
|B|
s
3
2
eq 2
d r
|A| + a(ns ns ) +
HB
2m
20

In the SC state, ns=nseq, A=B=0


Gsc = 0

In the normal state, n=0, B= H


s

Gn = V

Equality G

sc=Gn

eq 2
a (ns )

H2

defines the critical field Hc

Meissner effect
H
Hc(T)

critical field increases for


T<Tc, because energy
difference between N
and SCing state grows

normal
SC
T

This describes so-called type I superconductors


Some superconductors are type II and have a different phase diagram

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