Superconductivity in a Mesoscopic Double Square Loop: Effect of Imperfections

Abstract

We have generalized the network approach to include the effects of short-range imperfections in order to analyze recent experiments on mesoscopic superconducting double loops. The presence of weakly scattering imperfections causes gaps in the phase boundary $B(T)$ or $\Phi(T)$ for certain intervals of $T$, which depend on the magnetic flux penetrating each loop. This is accompanied by a critical temperature $T_c(\Phi)$, showing a smooth transition between symmetric and antisymmetric states. When the scattering strength of imperfections increases beyond a certain limit, gaps in the phase boundary $T_c(B)$ or $T_c(\Phi)$ appear for values of magnetic flux lying in intervals around half-integer $\Phi_0=hc/2e$. The critical temperature corresponding to these values of magnetic flux is determined mainly by imperfections in the central branch. The calculated phase boundary is in good agreement with experiment.