A simple procedure to extract anisotropic London penetration depth components from the magnetic susceptibility measurements in realistic samples of cuboidal shape is described.
We study the effects of anisotropic order parameters on the temperature dependence of London penetration depth anisotropy $gamma_lambda(T)$. After MgB$_2$, this dependence is commonly attributed to distinct gaps on multi-band Fermi surfaces in superconductors. We have found, however, that the anisotropy parameter may depend on temperature also in one-band materials with anisotropic order parameters $Delta(T,k_F)$, a few such examples are given. We have found also that for different order parameters, the temperature dependence of $Delta(T)/Delta(0)$ can be represented with good accuracy by the interpolation suggested by D. Einzel, J. Low Temp. Phys, {bf 131}, 1 (2003), which simplifies considerably the evaluation of $gamma_lambda(T)$. Of particular interest is mixed order parameters of two symmetries for which $gamma_lambda(T)$ may go through a maximum for a certain relative weight of two phases. Also, for this case, we find that the ratio $Delta_{max}(0)/T_c$ may exceed substantially the weak coupling limit of 1.76. It, however, does not imply a strong coupling, rather it is due to significantly anisotropic angular variation of $Delta$.
In- and out-of-plane magnetic penetration depths were measured in three iron-based pnictide superconducting systems. All studied samples of both 122 systems show a robust power-law behavior, $lambda (T) T^n$, with the sample-dependent exponent n=2-2.5, which is indicative of unconventional pairing. This scenario could be possible either through scattering in a $s_{pm }$ state or due to nodes in the superconducting gap. In the Nd-1111 system, the interpretation of data may be obscured by the magnetism of rare-earth ions. The overall anisotropy of the pnictide superconductors is small. The 1111 system is about two times more anisotropic than the 122 system. Our data and analysis suggest that the iron-based pnictides are complex superconductors in which a multiband three-dimensional electronic structure and strong magnetic fluctuations play important roles.
The anisotropic London equations taking into account the normal currents are derived and applied to the problem of the surface impedance in the Meisner state of anisotropic materials. It is shown that the complex susceptibility of anisotropic slab depends on the orientation of the applied microwave field relative to the crystal axes. In particular, the anisotropic sample in the microwave field is subject to a torque, unless the field is directed along with one of the crystal principle axes.
We demonstrate existence of non-pairwise interaction forces between vortices in multicomponent and layered superconducting systems. That is, in contrast to most common models, the interactions in a group of such vortices is not a universal superposition of Coulomb or Yukawa forces. Next we consider the properties of vortex clusters in Semi-Meissner state of type-1.5 two-component superconductors. We show that under certain condition non-pairwise forces can contribute to formation of very complex vortex states in type-1.5 regimes.
Magnetic susceptibility of non-ellipsoidal samples is a long-standing problem in experimental studies of magnetism and superconductivity. Here the quantitative description of the Meissner-London response (no Abrikosov vortices) of right circular cylinders in an axial magnetic field is given. The three-dimensional adaptive finite-element modeling was used to calculate the total magnetic moment, m, in a wide range of London penetration depth, lambda, to sample size ratios. By fitting the numerical data, the closed-form universal magnetic susceptibility is formulated involving only sample dimensions and lambda, thus providing a recipe for determining the London penetration depth from the accurate magnetic susceptibility measurements. Detailed examples of the experimental data analysis using the developed approach are given. The results can be extended to the frequently used cuboid-shaped samples.