Superconductivity in the presence of microwaves

Full phase diagram

Journal article (2018)

Authors

K. S. Tikhonov Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, L. D. Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics
M. A. Skvortsov Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, L. D. Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics
T.M. Klapwijk QN/Klapwijk Lab
Research Group
QN/Klapwijk Lab
Copyright: © 2018 K. S. Tikhonov, M. A. Skvortsov, T.M. Klapwijk
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.97.184516
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Published Date

2018

Language

English

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Research Group

QN/Klapwijk Lab

Abstract

We address the problem of nonequilibrium superconductivity in the presence of microwave irradiation. Using contemporary analytical methods, we refine the old Eliashberg theory and generalize it to arbitrary temperatures T and frequencies ω. Microwave radiation is shown to stimulate superconductivity in a bounded region in the (ω,T) plane. In particular, for T<0.47Tc and for ω>3.3kBTc superconductivity is always suppressed by a weak ac driving. We also study the supercurrent in the presence of microwave irradiation and establish the criterion for the critical current enhancement. Our results can be qualitatively interpreted in terms of the interplay between the kinetic ("stimulation" vs "heating") and spectral ("depairing") effects of the microwaves.