# Finding the Elusive Sliding Phase in the Superfluid-Normal Phase Transition Smeared by $$c$$-Axis Disorder

 Title: Finding the Elusive Sliding Phase in the Superfluid-Normal Phase Transition Smeared by $$c$$-Axis Disorder Author: Pekker, David; Refael, Gil; Demler, Eugene A. Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. Citation: Pekker, David, Gil Refael, and Eugene A. Demler. 2010. Finding the elusive sliding phase in the superfluid-normal phase transition smeared by $$c$$-axis disorder. Physical Review Letters 105(8): 085302. Full Text & Related Files: 1003.4723v1.pdf (366.7Kb; PDF) Abstract: We consider a stack of weakly Josephson coupled superfluid layers with $$c$$-axis disorder in the form of random superfluid stiffnesses and vortex fugacities in each layer as well as random interlayer coupling strengths. In the absence of disorder this system has a 3D $$XY$$ type superfluid-normal phase transition as a function of temperature. We develop a functional renormalization group to treat the effects of disorder, and demonstrate that the disorder results in the smearing of the superfluid-normal phase transition via the formation of a Griffiths phase. Remarkably, in the Griffiths phase, the emergent power-law distribution of the interlayer couplings gives rise to a sliding Griffiths superfluid, with a finite stiffness in the $$a-b$$ direction along the layers, and a vanishing stiffness perpendicular to it. Published Version: doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.085302 Other Sources: http://arxiv.org/abs/1003.4723 Terms of Use: This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Open Access Policy Articles, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#OAP Citable link to this page: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:13421137 Downloads of this work: