Fermi liquid and isotropic superconductivity of Hund scenario for bilayer nickelates

Abstract

Recent experiments on bulk and thin film bilayer nickelate high-$T_c$ superconductors urge for clarification of their pairing mechanism. Debates exist on whether the hybridization or the Hund's coupling between the nickel $d_{x^2-y^2}$ and $d_{z^2}$ orbitals plays a primary role in driving the superconductivity. Here, we study the Hund scenario and make comparisons with the hybridization scenario using the same dynamic Schwinger boson approach. Our calculations reveal several key features of the Hund-driven superconductivity, including an isotropic $s$-wave gap, a lower maximum $T_c$, and Fermi liquid normal states, that differ from the hybridization-driven mechanism. We attribute these differences to their distinct low-energy dynamics. Comparison with recent experiments suggests that the Hund scenario alone is not enough to explain the bilayer nickelate superconductivity in both bulk and thin films.