414 - pr 18-9 - the London equation and the Meissner effect: Derive the differential equation [18.

54] for the vector-potential A starting from the London equation [18.52] for a static magnetic field. e2 s (r ) 0e 2 s 1 2 (1.1) [18.52] J e (r ) = A; [18.54] A = A = 2 A; L m m Hints: you may need ( A) = ( A) 2 A , and the following simple geometry in xyz-space. Consider the half-space x < 0 to be vacuum, while x > 0 consists of superconducting-metal. You have a magnetic field B(x) = B( x ) z , with B( x) = B0 for x < 0.

Calculate the form of the magnetic field in the superconductor x > 0.

(1.2) Big ansatz: let electric current density be decomposed into paramagnetic and diamagnetic contributions, as first done on SSP 06 23 Eq. [1.98], ( (r ) (r ) ) = mV ( k + 12 q ) eiqr ak, ak +q, J = [paramagnetic]; 2mi k ,q (1.3) q q e2 (r ) A A i q r A = A e ak , ak +q , = A = [diamagnetic]; J e (r , A ) = J (r, A) + J ; J = m mV m k ,q The vector potential A comes from the external field. In the superconducting state, let the wavefunction be such that the paramagnetic response exactly cancels any applied diamagnetic field, A, A : H < H C J (r, A ) = J (r, 0) = J (r, A) = 0; e e e
J e (r, A ) = J (r, A ) + 0 = J (r, A ) = [diamagetic only] = (e2 (r ) / m) A;

(1.4)

For a negligible displacement current (i.e., magnetostatics), and in the gauge such that A = 0 , we compute this diamagnetic current (1.4) as, e2 (r ) B 1 1 1 A = J (r , A) + 0 = J e = +0 = ( A ) = ( A) 2 A = ((0) 2 A) (1.5) m 0 0 0 0

The vector potential of a uniform field is A = 1 B ( yz zy) . We can also read off, 2
2 A =

0 e 2 (r )
m

A; L

0 e (r )

; (r ) S ;

(1.6)

Discuss what happens in the boundary-layer of thickness L = m / ( 0 s e 2 ) [the London-length] . Consider a

vector potential A x< 0 = 1 B ( yz zy ) in the space x < 0. Then the solution to (1.6) in the space x > 0 is given by 2 the ansatz A x >0 = 1 B( x)( yz zy ) , 2

 A x >0 = 1 B( x)( yz zy ) = L 2 2 A x> 0 = 2 =

L 2
2

L 2
2

( 0 + 2 [ B ( x ) z ] y + 2 [ + B ( x) y ] z )

1 ([ By + 0 + 0]z [ Bz + 0 + 0] y ) A x >0 = Axy>0 y + Axz>0 z = 2 L 2 B ( yz zy ) = L 2

(1.7) B A x<0 ; B

For finite (and therefore physically-realistic) fields, the potential must be continuous across the boundary x = 0, so A x >0 (0+ , y, z ) A x< 0 (0 , y, z ) , which makes (1.7) into the ODE L 2 B ( x) = B ( x) = B+ e + x / L + B e x / L , which, for a field that is finite at x + , requires B+ = 0 , meaning B ( x) = B e x / L , and B = B . Hence, we have a decaying field across the boundary, which we plot as,
BHxLB1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

-2

xlL

(1.8)

How large is L for a typical superconducting-metal at T = 0 K, where all the electrons have condensed into the superconducting-condensate? For copper, you have a charge-carrier-density of (r ) = 8.47 1028 m3 , and the electrons can be assumed nearly-free ( m m* = m0 = 9.11 1031 kg ) so the penetration depth for copper is,
Cu L =

m = 2 (4 107 0 e (r )

N s C2

9.111031 kg = 1.83 10 8 m = 18.3 nm )(1.602 1019 C ) 2 (8.47 10 28 m 3 )

(1.9)