Intrinsic resistivity and the SO(5) theory of high-temperature superconductors

The topological structure of the order parameter in Zhang's SO(5) theory of superconductivity allows for an unusual type of dissipation mechanism via which current-carrying states can decay. The resistivity due to this mechanism, which involves orientation rather than amplitude order-parameter fluctuations, is calculated for the case of a thin superconducting wire. The approach is a suitably modified version of that pioneered by Langer and Ambegaokar for conventional superconductors.