Flux Phase in Bilayer $t-J$ Model

Abstract

In order to study the time-reversal symmetry (${\cal T}$) breaking near a (110) surface of a high-$T_C$ cuprate YBCO, we consider the flux phase in a bilayer $t-J$ model. Although the stable solution in the bulk is the $d_{x^2-y-2}$-wave superconducting (SC) state, free energy of the flux phase is close to it, and thus the flux phase may occur when the SC order is disturbed by inhomogeneity, e.g., surface or impurity. It is found that, depending on the doping rate, the flux phase in which spontaneous magnetic fields in two layers have opposite signs may be stabilized. This may lead to a surface state with local ${\cal T}$ violation but without local magnetic field.