Conductivity Due to Classical Phase Fluctuations in a Model For High-T_c Superconductors

Abstract

We consider the real part of the conductivity, σ_1(ω), arising from classical phase fluctuations in a model for high-T_c superconductors. We show that the frequency integral of that conductivity, \int_0^\infty σ_1 dω, is non-zero below the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$, provided there is some quenched disorder in the system. Furthermore, for a fixed amount of quenched disorder, this integral at low temperatures is proportional to the zero-temperature superfluid density, in agreement with experiment. We calculate σ_1(ω) explicitly for a model of overdamped phase fluctuations.