# Theory of the Pairbreaking Superconductor-Metal Transition in Nanowires

 Title: Theory of the Pairbreaking Superconductor-Metal Transition in Nanowires Author: Rosenow, Bernd; Sachdev, Subir; Del Maestro, Adrian Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. Citation: Del Maestro, Adrian, Bernd Rosenow, and Subir Sachdev. 2009. Theory of the pairbreaking superconductor-metal transition in nanowires. Annals of Physics 324(3): 523-582. Full Text & Related Files: 0807.2873v1.pdf (1.040Mb; PDF) Abstract: We present a detailed description of a zero temperature phase transition between superconducting and diffusive metallic states in very thin wires due to a Cooper pair breaking mechanism. The dissipative critical theory contains current reducing fluctuations in the guise of both quantum and thermally activated phase slips. A full cross-over phase diagram is computed via an expansion in the inverse number of complex components of the superconducting order parameter (one in the physical case). The fluctuation corrections to the direct current electrical ($$\sigma$$) and thermal ($$\kappa$$) conductivities are determined, and we find that the electrical conductivity ($$\sigma$$) has a non-monotonic temperature dependence in the metallic phase which may be consistent with recent experimental results on ultra-narrow wires. In the quantum critical regime, the ratio of the thermal to electrical conductivity displays a linear temperature dependence and thus the Wiedemann-Franz law is obeyed, with a new universal experimentally verifiable Lorenz number. Published Version: doi:10.1016/j.aop.2008.08.003 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:7616963 Downloads of this work: