Letter abstract


Nature Physics 3, 530 - 533 (2007)
Published online: 17 June 2007 | doi:10.1038/nphys646

Subject Categories: Condensed-matter physics | Quantum physics

Violation of the London law and Onsager–Feynman quantization in multicomponent superconductors

Egor Babaev1,2 & N. W. Ashcroft2

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Non-classical response to rotation is a hallmark of quantum ordered states such as superconductors and superfluids. The rotational responses of all currently known single-component 'super' states of matter (superconductors, superfluids and supersolids) are largely described by two fundamental principles and fall into two categories according to whether the systems are composed of charged or neutral particles: the London law1 relating the angular velocity to a subsequently established magnetic field and the Onsager–Feynman quantization of superfluid velocity2, 3. These laws are theoretically shown to be violated in a two-component superconductor such as the projected liquid metallic states of hydrogen and deuterium at high pressures. The rotational responses of liquid metallic hydrogen or deuterium identify them as a new class of dissipationless states; they also directly point to a particular experimental route for verification of their existence.

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  1. Department of Theoretical Physics, The Royal Institute of Technology, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
  2. Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA

Correspondence to: Egor Babaev1,2 e-mail: babaev@kth.se

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