Ginzburg-Landau Theory For Superconducting Materials

Ginzburg-Landau Theory
for Superconducting
Materials
Kunal Yadav
21/90/PP/009
Order parameter idea
●
Any ordered thermodynamic phase is
characterized by a non-zero parameter.
●
For easy understanding we can take an easy
example. Ferromagnetic Nickel or Iron has a
non-zero spontenous magnetization which
distinguishes it from paramagnetic Nickel or
Iron. Thus Magnetization is the order
parameter of such system.
Free energy functional for a
superconductor
●
Order parameter in superconductiong state is some comlex number Ψ(r)
which is wavefunction of superconducting state and it varies with the coordinate r.
●
For small value of Ψ(r) and slow spatial variations of it , the free energy F can be
expressed as a functional power series.
F{Ψ(r)}= ∫ [a|Ψ(r)|2+(b/2)|Ψ(r)|4+
d ξ02|𝜵Ψ(r)-(ie*/ℏ)AΨ(r)|2] + (1/2μ0) ∫ |B(r)|2 dr
Here a,b and d have dimensions of energy density. ξ0 has the dimension of length
known as the Coherence length and indicates the characteristic length scale over
which the variation of Ψ(r) costs superconductivity energy. A is electromagnetic
vector potential and the last term is magnetic field energy.
Superconducting phase transition
Assume a uniform superconductor in absence of a magnetic field and say order
parameter to be uniform. Then the free energy is simplified to
F{Ψ}= V[a|Ψ|2+(b/2)|Ψ|4]
V is the volume of the system. If a= a0{(T-Tc)/Tc} and b is temperature
independent, then minimum of F{Ψ} occurs at Ψ=0 for T>Tc and at
|Ψ|2=(a0/b){(Tc-T)/Tc} below Tc .
F{Ψ} F{Ψ}
T>Tc T>Tc
Ψ Ψ
Meissner effect and zero electrical resistance
The electrical current density of a system of charges in a vector potential A is
given by the rate of the energy change with A.
Thus,
js(r) = -{F/A(r)}
= -dξo2(ie*/h){Ψ*(r)(𝜵- ie*A/h)Ψ(r)+c2}
for a region for uniform order parameter i.e., 𝜵Ψ(r)=0, we have

js = -dξo2|Ψ|2(e*A/ℏ2)Ψ
which is the London equation. The penetration depth λ increases as |Ψ|2

decreases. Since near Tc, |Ψ|2  (Tc-T) , thus λ  (Tc-T)-1/2. Also Ψ does
not vary spatially, thus a connection between j(r) and A(r) at the same point
r is valid if ξo<<λ.
Flux quantization
Considering a closed loop inside the superconductor. Supercurrent as well as
the magnetic field is zero there. Also,
js = Ψ*(r)[𝜵- ie*A/h]Ψ(r)= 0
Since Ψ(r)= |Ψ|ei(r) ,this can be expressed as

𝜵(r)- e*A(r)/ℏ = 0
Thus, the order parameter must have a unique value at each point, such that
energy is minimized. Returning to a given point via a closed path, (r) change
by integral multiples of 2π. Thus,
∮𝜵. dl = Δ = 2nπ = (e*/ℏ)∮ A. dl = e*Φ/ℏ
Here Φ is the magnetic flux enclosed in a closed loop. Flux quantization is thus
required by the single-valueness of the order parameter.
Type II superconductivity
For some class of superconductors the interface energy is negative above a
certain external magnetic field, and that the magnetic field penetrates in the
form of quantized flux tubes. The flux associated with each tube is given by
Φ0 = h/e* = h/2e
Consider the superconductor penetrated by a flux tube which is cylindrical,
with the axis along the field direction. The field is maximum along the axis
and decreases to zero along the radius in a distance of the order of the
penetration depth.
Also, the order parameter is zero along the axis and rises to its equilibrium value in a radial
distance ξ0.
The total flux tube energy or the normal-superconducting interface energy per unit tube length
works out to be
ΔE = ΔEs – ΔEm
≅ Hc2 πξ02/8πμ0 - B2 πλ2/8πμ0
This is always positive for B<Hc if ξ0>λ and can be negative for ξ0<λ if
B>Hc1 ≅ Hc [ξ0/λ]<Hc
It is favorable for the magnetic flux to partially penetrate the system. The flux tubes are called
vortices because of the vortex-like pattern of supercurrent associated with each of them.
Since the field penetrates a radial distance λ when the density of fluxtubes is very small, from
the flux quantization condition we have,
Hc1(πλ2) ≃ Φ0
As the field increases, the flux tubes begin to overlap, when the non-superconducting core
regions of radius ξ0 overlap, the system becomes a normal metal. This is the upper critical filed
Hc1 , which is approximately
Hc2(πξ02) ≃ Φ0
Thank You

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Ginzburg-Landau Theory

for a region for uniform order parameter i.e., 𝜵Ψ(r)=0, we have

which is the London equation. The penetration depth λ increases as |Ψ|2

Since Ψ(r)= |Ψ|ei(r) ,this can be expressed as

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