Predicted giant magnetic moment on non-{n0m} surfaces of d-wave superconductors --- Can it be observed and how?

Abstract

It has been noted previously that the sizable areal density of midgap states which must exist on any non-{n0m} surface of a d-wave superconductor can lead to a giant magnetic moment. Here we show that this effect is observable, and discuss two precise ways to observe it: (i) by directly measuring magnetic moment in a system with a large density of internal {110} surfaces, or (ii) by performing spin-polarized tunneling on a {110} surface. In both cases a sufficiently large magnetic field should be applied in the [1$\bar 1$0] direction.