Superconductivity in Ferromagnetic RuSr2GdCu2O8

Abstract

Relying on the inhomogeneous (layered) crystal, electronic, and magnetic structure, we show how superconductivity can coexist with the ferromagnetic phase of RuSr2GdCu2O8 as observed by Tallon and coworkers. Since the Cu d_{x^2-y^2} orbitals couple only to apical O p_x, p_y orbitals (and only weakly), which also couple only weakly to the magnetic Ru t_{2g} orbitals, there is sufficiently weak exchange splitting, especially of the symmetric CuO2 bilayer Fermi surface, to allow singlet pairing. The exchange splitting is calculated to be large enough that the superconducting order parameter may be of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov type. We also note that \pi-phase formation is preferred by the magnetic characteristics of RuSr2GdCu2O8.