Microwave spectroscopy on superconducting Nb-doped SrTiO3
Author: Beydeda, Cenk
Affiliation: PI1, University of Stuttgart
Type: Poster
Display Dates: 20.07.2026 - 21.07.2026
Board: MT-101
We present a comprehensive microwave spectroscopic investigation on bulk Nb:SrTiO3 in the mixed state. By measuring the complex optical conductivity σ as a function of temperature T, frequency f, and magnetic field B, we extract the energy gap Δ, the penetration depth λeff, the GL coherence length ξGL, and the upper critical field Bc2 across the superconducting dome.
Our field-dependent measurements reveal flux-flow consistent with the Coffey–Clem model of the mixed state. This includes a strong peak in σ1(B), which we dub flux-flow peak. More importantly, we observe a distinct characteristic field B* next to Bc2. We interpret B* and Bc2 as the upper critical fields of two superconducting bands. Their ratio remains constant across doping and matches the known ratio of effective masses of the lower and middle bands, establishing a direct link between the critical fields and the band structure. Furthermore, we spectroscopically track the energy gap Δ(B) in the mixed state. We find that Δ(B) closes at B ≈ B* well below Bc2. We observe only a single superconducting energy gap.
We extract the density of states N(0) by relating N(0)Δ²/2 = Bc²/(2μ) across the dome. Strikingly, N(0) exhibits a dome-shaped doping dependence, which means a decreasing density of states with increasing charge carrier concentration. This behavior contradicts the well-established evolution of the Fermi surface and the expected monotonic increase of N(0) with doping. Recent theoretical works treat Nb:SrTiO3 in the adiabatic limit ωC/EF<<1, but such approaches do not explain the unusual N(0). We show that a theory of superconductivity in Nb:SrTiO3, which satisfies itself with a calculation of the coupling strength λBCS, is not sufficient.