Abstract
We consider the mesoscopic normal persistent current (PC) in a very low-temperature superconductor with a bare transition temperature much smaller than the Thouless energy . We show that in a rather broad range of pair-breaking strength, , the transition temperature is renormalized to zero, but the PC is hardly affected. This may provide an explanation for the magnitude of the average PC’s in the noble metals, as well as a way to determine their ’s.
- Received 2 April 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.057001
©2008 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
New clues in the mystery of persistent currents
Published 28 July 2008
A decade ago, experimentalists showed that persistent currents can flow in nonsuperconducting mesoscopic metal rings, but there was no theory that correctly explained the magnitude or direction of the unexpectedly large currents. Theorists are now proposing a simple idea that may at last explain these results.
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