Ubiquitous V-shape density of states in a mixed state of clean limit type II superconductors.

It is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally that the low energy density of states N(E) is described by a singular V-shape form N(E)=N(0)(H)+alpha|E|+O(E2) for all clean superconductors in a vortex state, irrespective of the underlying gap structure. The linear term alpha|E| which has not been recognized so far is obtained by exactly evaluating the vortex contribution. Based on microscopic Eilenberger theory N(E) is evaluated for the isotropic gap, line, and point-node gaps to yield a V-shape N(E). Scanning tunneling spectroscopy-STM experiments on NbSe2 and YNi2B2C give direct evidence for this. We provide arguments on the significance of this finding and on the relevance to other experiments.

Near-field spectroscopy of the quantum constituents of a luminescent system.

Luminescent centers with sharp (<0.07 millielectron volt), spectrally distinct emission lines were imaged in a GaAs/AIGaAs quantum well by means of low-temperature near-field scanning optical microscopy. Temperature, magnetic field, and linewidth measurements establish that these centers arise from excitons laterally localized at interface fluctuations. For sufficiently narrow wells, virtually all emission originates from such centers. Near-field microscopy/spectroscopy provides a means to access energies and homogeneous line widths for the individual eigenstates of these centers, and thus opens a rich area of physics involving quantum resolved systems.