Magnetic field induced rotation of the d-vector in the spin triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4
Abstract
In zero magnetic field the superconductor Sr2RuO4 is believed to have a chiral spin triplet pairing state in which the gap function d-vector is aligned along the crystal c-axis. Using a phenomenological but orbital specific description of the spin dependent electron-electron attraction and a realistic quantitative account of the electronic structure in the normal state we analyze the orientation of the spin triplet Cooper pair d-vector in response to an external c-axis magnetic field. We show that for suitable values of the model parameters a c-axis field of only 20 mT is able to cause a reorientation phase transition of the d-vector from along c to the a-b plane, in agreement with recent experiments.
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