Triplon-mediated pairing and the superconducting gap structure in bilayer nickelates

Abstract

We investigate the superconducting gap structure in bilayer nickelates within a model in which conduction bands of dx2-y2 symmetry coexist with localized d3z2-r2 spins. Strong interlayer coupling drives the local moments into a singlet ground state, whose virtual singlet-triplet excitations ("triplons") mediate the pairing interaction. This mechanism yields interband s+- pairing, with opposite signs of the order parameter on the two (alpha and beta) bands. The calculated tunneling spectra naturally explain the key experimental features, including a larger gap on the alpha band despite its smaller density of states and a gap anisotropy induced by nonlocal Kondo coupling. The results support triplon-mediated pairing as the microscopic origin of superconductivity in bilayer nickelates.