Published July 30, 2024 | Version v1
Journal article

Nonlinear optical response in superconductors in magnetic field: Quantum geometry and topological superconductivity

  • 1. Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
  • 2. Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, Komaba Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan

Description

Noncentrosymmetric superconductors offer fascinating phenomena of quantum transport and optics such as nonreciprocal and nonlinear responses. Time-reversal symmetry breaking often plays an essential role in the emergence and enhancement of nonreciprocal transport. In this paper, we show the nonreciprocal optical responses in noncentrosymmetric superconductors arising from time-reversal symmetry breaking by demonstrating them in s-wave superconductors with a Rashba spin-orbit coupling and a magnetic field. Numerical results reveal the superconductivity-induced bulk photocurrent and second harmonic generation, which are forbidden at the zero magnetic field. We discuss the properties and mechanisms of the superconducting nonlinear responses emerging under the magnetic field. In particular, we investigate the magnetic field dependence of the photocurrent conductivity and clarify the essential ingredients, which give a contribution unique to superconductors under the magnetic field. This contribution is dominant in the low-carrier-density regime although the corresponding joint density of state is tiny. We attribute the enhancement to the quantum geometry. Moreover, the nonlinear conductivity shows peculiar sign reversal at the transition to the topological superconducting state. We propose a bulk probe of topological transition and quantum geometry in superconductors.

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1103/PhysRevB.110.014520;
arXiv
arXiv:2403.00494;
Crossref Funder ID
10.13039/501100001691;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review B
Journal Volume
110
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
24 pgs.
ISSN
1550-235X

Optional Information

Copyright
©2024 American Physical Society
Contract/Grant/Project number
JP21K18145; JP22H01181; JP22H04933; JP23K17353; JP23K22452; JP24K21530; JP24H00007; JP23KJ1344; JP23K13058; JP24K00581
Notes
Contact Email: Contact author: tanaka.hiroto.54z@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp; Record automatically processed
Funding organization
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science