Structure of a vortex line in a dx2-y2 superconductor

The structure of a vortex line in a dx2-y2 superconductor is calculated self-consistently in the framework of the Bogoliubov–de Gennes theory. The inner core of the vortex containing localized quasiparticle excitations is found to be separated from the asymptotic pure d-wave state by a region where low-lying fermionic excitations are absent. A domain structure of the relative phase of the s-wave and d-wave components is identified. The results are interpreted in terms of a Ginzburg-Landau theory.