Massless and quantized modes of kinks in the phase space of superconducting gaps

Abstract

We investigated quantized modes of kinks in the phase space of superconducting gaps in a superconductor with multiple gaps. The kink is described by the sine-Gordon model in a two-gap superconductor and by the double sine-Gordon model in a three-gap superconductor. A fractional-flux vortex exists at the edge of the kink, and a fractional-flux vortex will be stable in a three-gap superconductor with time-reversal symmetry breaking. The kink and fractional-flux vortex exhibit massless modes as a sliding motion. We show further that there are one zero-energy mode (massless mode) and quantized excitation modes in kinks, which are characteristic features of multi-gap superconductors. The equation of quantized modes for the double sine-Gordon model is solved numerically. The correction to the ground-state energy is calculated based on the renormalization theory.