Quantum size effect on the paramagnetic critical field in Pb nanofilms

Abstract

The quantum size effect on the in-plane paramagnetic critical field in Pb nanofilms is investigated with the use of the spin-generalized Bogolubov-de Gennes equations. It is shown that the critical field oscillates as a function of the nanofilm thickness with the period of $\sim 2$ ML (even-odd oscillations) modulated by the beating effect. This phenomena is studied in terms of the quantization of the electron energy spectra caused by the confinement of the electron motion in the direction perpendicular to the sample. The calculated values of critical fields for different nanofilm thicknesses are analyzed in the context of Clogston-Chandrasekhar limit. The influence of the thermal effect on the magnetic field induced superconductor to normal metal transition is also discussed. Furthermore, the thickness-dependence of the electron-phonon coupling and its influence on the value of the critical magnetic field are studied.

arXiv comment9 pages, 9 figures

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Superconducting dome in doped 2D superconductors with broken inversion symmetry
• Intersubband pairing induced Fulde-Ferrell phase in metallic nanofilms
• Quantum size effects on Andreev transport in Nb/Au/Nb Josephson junctions: A combined ab-initio and experimental study
• Fulde-Ferrell state in superconducting core/shell nanowires: role of the orbital effect
• Orbital effect on the in-plane critical field in free-standing superconducting nanofilms