1995/08/31 by M. Kiometzis, H. Kleinert, A. M. J. Schakel · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/prop.2190430803
published as Fortschr. Phys. 43, 697 (1995) · Latex + Postscript files
arxiv created 1995/08/31 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30
The dual approach to the Ginzburg-Landau theory of a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superconductor is reviewed. The dual theory describes a grand canonical ensemble of fluctuating closed magnetic vortices, of arbitrary length and shape, which interact with a massive vector field representing the local magnetic induction. When the critical temperature is approached from below, the magnetic vortices proliferate. This is signaled by the disorder field, which describes the loop gas, developing a non-zero expectation value in the normal conducting phase. It thereby breaks a \it global U(1) symmetry. The ensuing Goldstone field is the magnetic scalar potential. The superconducting-to-normal phase transition is studied by applying renormalization group theory to the dual formulation. In the regime of a second-order transition, the critical exponents are given by those of a superfluid with a reversed temperature axis.