Ground state, collective mode, phase soliton and vortex in multiband superconductors

Abstract

This article reviews theoretical and experimental work on the novel physics in multiband superconductors. Multiband superconductors are characterized by multiple superconducting energy gaps in different bands with interaction between Cooper pairs in these bands. The discovery of prominent multiband superconductors $\mathrm{MgB_2}$ and later iron-based superconductors has triggered enormous interests in multiband superconductors. Most recently discovered superconductors exhibit multiband features. The multiband superconductors possess novel properties that are not shared by their single-band counterpart. Examples include the time-reversal symmetry broken state in multiband superconductors with frustrated interband couplings, the collective oscillation of number of Cooper pairs between different bands, known as the Leggett mode, the phase soliton and fractional vortex, which are the main focus of this review. This review presents a survey of a wide range of theoretical exploration and experimental investigations of novel physics in multiband superconductors. Vast information derived from these studies is shown to highlight unusual and unique properties of multiband superconductors, and to reveal the challenges and opportunities in the research on the multiband superconductivity.