Interlayer Coupling and p-wave Pairing in Strontium Ruthenate

Abstract

On the basis of a three orbital model and an effective attractive interaction between electrons we investigate the possible superconducting states, with $p$ and $f$-wave internal symmetry, of Sr$_2$RuO$_4$. For an orbital dependent interaction which acts between in plane and out of plane nearest neighbour Ruthenium atoms we find a state for which the gap in the quasi-particle spectra has a line node on the $α$ and $β$ sheets of the Fermi Surface, but it is complex with no nodes on the $γ$-sheet. We show that this state is consistent with all the available experimental data. In particular, we present the results of our calculations of the specific heat and penetration depth as functions of the temperature.