Phase Fluctuations and Kosterlitz-Thouless Transition in Two-Dimensional Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov Superconductors

Abstract

Effect of the phase fluctuations of the order parameter on the stability of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) states are examined in exactly two-dimensional (2D) type-II superconductors with cylindrically symmetric Fermi surface on the basis of a generalized Ginzburg-Landau theory. It is found that for the FFLO states with oscillations in a single direction, not only the long-range order but also quasi-long-range order (QLRO), which is characterized by a power law decay of the order parameter correlation function, is suppressed by the phase fluctuations at any finite temperatures. On the other hand, for the FFLO states with order parameter structures such as triangular and square lattices, it is shown that the QLRO is possible as the uniform BCS state. Systems with anisotropy in the Fermi surface and pairing are also discussed.