English

Spin Meissner Effect in Superconductors and the Origin of the Meissner Effect

Superconductivity 2008-03-02 v2 Strongly Correlated Electrons

Abstract

We propose a dynamical explanation of the Meissner effect in superconductors and predict the existence of a spin Meissner effect: that a macroscopic spin current flows within a London penetration depth λL\lambda_L of the surface of superconductors in the absence of applied external fields, with carrier density = the superfluid density and carrier speed v=/(4meλLv=\hbar/(4m_e\lambda_L) (me=m_e=bare electron mass). The two members of a Cooper pair circulate in orbits of radius 2λL2\lambda_L in opposite direction and the spin current in a Cooper pair has orbital angular momentum \hbar. Our description also provides a 'geometric' interpretation of the difference between type I and type II superconductors.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.0710.0876,
  title  = {Spin Meissner Effect in Superconductors and the Origin of the Meissner Effect},
  author = {J. E. Hirsch},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0710.0876},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

Interpretation of type I vs. type II behavior added (fig. 2)