Magnetic Induction of d + i d Order in High-Tc Superconductors

Abstract

I propose that the phase transition in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 recently observed by by Krishana et al [Science 277, 83 (1997)] is the development of a small d-xy superconducting order parameter phased by pi/2 with respect to the principal d-(x2-y2) one to produce a minimum energy gap delta. The violation of both parity and time-reversal symmetry allows the development of a magnetic moment, the key to explaining the experiment. The origin of this moment is a quantized boundary current of I = 2 e delta / h at zero temperature.

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