https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2004-00088-x
Gauge fluctuations in superconducting films
Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas,
Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, 22290-180, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Corresponding author: a roditi@cbpf.br
Received:
21
October
2003
Revised:
19
December
2003
Published online:
9
April
2004
In this paper we consider a type-I superconducting film
modeled by the Ginzburg-Landau model, confined between two
parallel planes a distance L apart from one another. Our
approach is based on the Gaussian
effective potential in the transverse unitarity gauge, which
allows to treat gauge contributions in a compact form. Using
techniques from dimensional and -function regularizations,
modified by the confinement conditions, we investigate the
critical temperature as a function of the film thickness L.
The contributions from the scalar self-interaction and from the gauge fluctuations
are clearly identified. The model suggests the existence of a minimal critical
thickness below which superconductivity is suppressed. A comparison with present
experimental observations is done.
PACS: 74.20.-z – Theories and models of superconducting state / 11.15.Ex – Spontaneous breaking of gauge symmetries / 05.10.Cc – Renormalization group methods
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2004