Detailed Analysis of the Superconducting Gap with Pair-Breaking Scattering: Dynes Superconductor Approach

We study the energy gap $\Delta(T)$ within the Dynes superconductor theory. This model generalizes the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) approach by including the pair-breaking scattering, introducing the tunneling in-gap states up to a Fermi level. We analytically solve the energy gap equation in various limit cases. The solution provides simple tools for further studies, compared to more complex numerics, and highlights the basic characteristics of the theory. First, in the critical limit of pair-breaking scattering, we derive (inspired by the famous BCS ratio) $\Delta_0/T_c = \sqrt{2/3}\pi$. Next, we derive the dependence $ \Delta(T)$ close to critical temperature and look at its behavior for general (and also critical) pair-breaking scattering rate $\Gamma$. Furthermore, we compare our result - analytical dependence of $\Delta(T)$ - with the numerical solution of the gap equation assuming general temperature. We show the range of temperatures, for which the analytical approximation is valid. In the end, we introduce the heuristic formula of $\Delta(0\leq T\leq T_c)$, assuming general pair-breaking scattering, emphasizing its exact behavior close to $T_c$.
Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, 4 Appendices