Finite-momentum and field-induced pairings in orbital-singlet spin-triplet superconductors

Superconductivity is conventionally understood as the condensation of electron pairs near the Fermi energy with momentum 𝐤 and −𝐤, i.e., a zero center-of-mass momentum, referred to as uniform pairing. A term in the Hamiltonian that breaks the degeneracy of the paired electrons generally suppresses the pairing.

Publication Date: June 1, 2024

Authors: Jonathan Clepkens and Hae-Young Kee

Abstract:

Finite-momentum pairing in a Pauli-limited spin-singlet superconductor arises from the pair-breaking effects of an external Zeeman field, a mechanism which is not applicable in odd-parity spin-triplet superconductors. However, in multiorbital systems, the relevant bands originating from different orbitals are usually separated in momentum space, implying that orbital-singlet pairing is a natural candidate for a finite-momentum pairing state. We show that finite-momentum pairing arises in even-parity orbital-singlet spin-triplet superconductors via the combination of orbitally nontrivial kinetic terms and Hund's coupling. The finite-momentum pairing is then suppressed with an increasing spin-orbit coupling, stabilizing a uniform pseudospin-singlet pairing. We also examine the effects of the magnetic field and find field-induced superconductivity at large fields. We apply these findings to the multiorbital superconductor with spin-orbit coupling, Sr2⁢RuO4, and show that a finite-momentum pseudospin-singlet state appears between the uniform pairing and normal states. Future directions of inquiry relating to our findings are also discussed.

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