Quasiparticle spectra in the vicinity of a d-wave vortex

Abstract

We discuss the evolution of the local quasiparticle spectral density and the related tunneling conductance measurable by the scanning tunneling microscope, as a function of distance r and angle θfrom the vortex core in a d_{x^2-y^2} superconductor. We consider the effects of electronic disorder and of a strongly anisotropic tunneling matrix element, and show that in real materials they will likely obscure the ~1/r asymptotic tail in the zero-bias tunneling conductance expected from the straightforward semiclassical analysis. We also give a prediction for the tunneling conductance anisotropy around the vortex core and establish a connection to the structure of the tunneling matrix element.

9 pages REVTeX + 5 PostScript figures. For related work and info visit http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~franz