English

First-Order Topological FFLO Transition and Superconducting Diode Sign Reversal in Altermagnetic Nanowires

Superconductivity 2026-07-17 v1

Abstract

Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state conventionally emerges via a second-order phase transition driven by finite magnetization. Here we show that a spin-orbit-coupled nanowire proximitized to dd-wave altermagnets -- with zero net magnetization -- can realize topological FFLO states through a first-order transition, marked by a sharp sign-reversing superconducting diode effect. The altermagnetic field generates band-resolved competing pairing channels, giving rise to a double-valley free energy landscape whose global minimum switches discontinuously. It consequently leads to a first-order topological FFLO transition with simultaneous jumps in the Cooper pairing amplitude and finite center-of-mass momentum. Remarkably, this discontinuous topological reconfiguration substantially enhances the diode efficiency and drives a characteristic sharp sign reversal across the transition. The mechanism of such exotic phenomena is captured by Ginzburg--Landau theory. Our results provide a field-free altermagnetic route to topological FFLO states and identify their direct transport fingerprint.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.15720,
  title  = {First-Order Topological FFLO Transition and Superconducting Diode Sign Reversal in Altermagnetic Nanowires},
  author = {Bo Fu and Kaizhi Bai and Chang-An Li and Shun-Qing Shen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.15720},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

13 pages, 8 figures