The physical origin of the electron-phonon vertex correction

In the theory of nonadiabatic superconductivity several features are governed by the electron-phonon vertex correction which has a complex structure both in momentum and frequency. We derive a physical interpretation of such nonadiabatic effects that permits to link them to specific material properties. We show how the nonadiabatic vertex correction can be decomposed into two terms with different physical origins. In particular, the first term describes the lattice polarization induced by the electrons and it is essentially a single-electron process whereas the second term is governed by the particle-hole excitations due to the exchange part of the phonon-mediated electron-electron interaction. We show that by weakening the influence of the exchange interaction the vertex takes mostly positive values giving rise to an enhanced effective coupling in the scattering with phonons. This weakening of the exchange interaction can be obtained by lowering the density of the electrons, or by considering only long-ranged (small q) electron-phonon couplings. Received 23 November 1998 and Received in final form 22 January 1999     

Extended -wave superconductivity. Flat nodes in the gap and the low-temperature asymptotic properties of high- superconductors

Remarkable anisotropic structures have been recently observed in the order parameter of the underdoped superconductor Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O . Such findings are strongly suggestive of deviations from a simple d _{x2 - y2} -wave picture of high- superconductivity, i.e. . In particular, flatter nodes in are observed along the directions in -space, than within this simple model for a d-wave gap. We argue that nonlinear corrections in the -dependence of near the nodes introduce new energy scales, which would lead to deviations in the predicted power-law asymptotic behaviour of several measurable quantities, at low or intermediate temperatures. We evaluate such deviations, either analytically or numerically, within the interlayer pair-tunneling model, and within yet another phenomenological model for a d-wave order parameter. We find that such deviations are expected to be of different sign in the two cases. Moreover, the doping dependence of the flatness of the gap near the nodes is also attributable to Fermi surface effects, in addition to possible screening effects modifying the in-plane pairing kernel, as recently proposed. Received 19 November 1999     

Kinks and d-waves from phonons: The intermediate coupling story

I present results from an approach that extends the Eliashberg theory by systematic expansion in the vertex function; an essential extension at large phonon frequencies, even for weak coupling. In order to deal with computationally expensive double sums over momenta, a dynamical cluster approximation (DCA) approach is used to incorporate momentum dependence into the Eliashberg equations. First, I consider the effects of introducing partial momentum dependence on the standard Eliashberg theory using a quasi-local approximation; which I use to demonstrate that it is essential to include corrections beyond the standard theory when investigating d-wave states. Using the extended theory with vertex corrections, I compute electron and phonon spectral functions. A kink in the electronic dispersion is found in the normal state along the major symmetry directions, similar to that found in photo-emission from cuprates. The phonon spectral function shows that for weak coupling Wλ<ω₀, the dispersion for phonons has weak momentum dependence, with consequences for the theory of optical phonon mediated d-wave superconductivity, which is shown to be 2nd order in λ. In particular, examination of the order parameter vs. filling shows that vertex corrections lead to d-wave superconductivity mediated via simple optical phonons. I map out the order parameters in detail, showing that there is significant induced anisotropy in the superconducting pairing in quasi-2D systems.     

What is the highest Tc for phonon-mediated superconductivity?

We suggest that the high-temperature superconductivity can be attributed to the director-roles of the van Hove singularity between an electron-electron interaction and an electron-phonon interaction. The difference between the critical temperature and the pairing temperature is presented, and the Fermi arc, the d-wave symmetry and the poor conductivity, etc., are discussed. In particular, the non-s-wave symmetry is predicted to have the highest T _c for superconductors.      

Islands of stability of the d-wave order parameter in s-wave anisotropic superconductors

In this paper we find and present on diagrams in the coordinates of η=2t₁/t₀ (the ratio of the second and the first nearest neighbor hopping integrals) and n (the carrier concentration) the areas of stability for the superconducting spin-singlet s- and d-wave and the spin-triplet p-wave order parameters hatching out during the phase transition from the normal to the superconducting phase. The diagrams are obtained for an anisotropic two-dimensional superconducting system with a relatively wide partially-filled conduction band. We study a tight-binding model with an attractive nearest neighbor interaction with the amplitude V₁, and the on-site interaction (with the amplitude V₀) taken either as repulsive or attractive. The problem of the coexistence of the s-, p- and d-wave order parameters is addressed and solved for chosen values of the ratio V₀/V₁. A possible island of stability of the d-wave order parameter in the s-wave order parameter environment for a relatively strong on-site interaction is revealed. The triple points, around which the s-, d-, and p-wave order parameters coexist, are localized on diagrams. It is shown that results of the calculations performed for the two-dimensional tight-binding band model are dissimilar with some obtained within the BCS-type approximation.     

What is the highest T c for phonon-mediated superconductivity?

We suggest that the high-temperature superconductivity can be attributed to the director-roles of the van Hove singularity between an electron-electron interaction and an electron-phonon interaction. The difference between the critical temperature and the pairing temperature is presented, and the Fermi arc, the d-wave symmetry and the poor conductivity, etc., are discussed. In particular, the non-s-wave symmetry is predicted to have the highest T _c for superconductors.     

wave superconductivity: Analysis of the electronic Raman data of and other cuprates

After briefly recalling the d + s model valid for some anisotropic high T c superconductors, we present a theory of electronic Raman spectra in that model and then compare it with new experimental data obtained for an overdoped Y123 single crystal. The d + s model appears to describe satisfactorily the experimental results, indicating a possible doping dependence of the mixing ratio. We note that the Raman spectrum of the overdoped Bi2212 could also be accounted for by the d + s superconductivity model. The case of Hg1212 (or Hg1223) is reexamined. It appears that the spontaneous breakdown of d-wave symmetry may be rather universal in high T c cuprates. Received: 3 March 1998 / Accepted: 30 April 1998     

Rare earth ion size dependence of the Tc of the “RE-123” HTSC within the (d + s)-wave description of their superconducting state

The dependence of the T_c's on the radius of the rare earth ions in the rare earth “123” high temperature superconductors (HTSC) is explained within the framework of a (d + s)-wave model of superconductivity. The appearance of a s-wave symmetry component in the order parameter of a spin fluctuation mediated d-wave superconductor is taken to be due to the orthorhombic distortion which occurs in these HTSC. It is assumed that the structural (orthorhombic) distortion induces a corresponding anisotropy in the pairing interaction, resulting in a nonseparable anisotropic interaction. It is shown that the T_c's are affected by the orthorhombic distortion which in turn is observed to depend on the size of the RE ions.     

Possible phases of the two-dimensional Hubbard model

We present a stability analysis of the 2D t - t' Hubbard model on a square lattice for various values of the next-nearest-neighbor hopping t' and electron concentration. Using the free energy expression, derived by means of the flow equations method, we have performed numerical calculation for the various representations under the point group C _4ν in order to determine at which temperature symmetry broken phases become more favorable than the symmetric phase. A surprisingly large number of phases has been observed. Some of them have an order parameter with many nodes in -space. Commonly discussed types of order found by us are antiferromagnetism, d _{x2 - y2} -wave singlet superconductivity, d-wave Pomeranchuk instability and flux phase. A few instabilities newly observed are a triplet analog of the flux phase, a particle-hole instability of p-type symmetry in the triplet channel which gives rise to a phase of magnetic currents, an s^*-magnetic phase, a g-wave Pomeranchuk instability and the band splitting phase with p-wave character. Other weaker instabilities are found also. A comparison with experiments is made. Received 25 July 2002 / Received in final form 28 November 2002 Published online 14 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"Current address: Département de physique and Centre de recherche sur les propriétés électroniques de matériaux avancés, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1 e-mail: vaha@physique.usherb.ca     

Spin susceptibility in small Fermi energy systems: effects of nonmagnetic impurities

In small Fermi energy metals, disorder can deeply modify superconducting state properties leading to a strong suppression of the critical temperature T_c. In this paper, we show that also normal state properties can be seriously influenced by disorder when the Fermi energy E _F is sufficiently small. We calculate the normal state spin susceptibility χ for a narrow band electron-phonon coupled metal as a function of the non-magnetic impurity scattering rate . We find that as soon as is comparable to E _F, χ is strongly reduced with respect to its value in the clean limit. The effects of the electron-phonon interaction including the nonadiabatic corrections are discussed. Our results strongly suggest that the recent finding on irradiated MgB₂ samples can be naturally explained in terms of small E _F values associated with the σ-bands of the boron plane, sustaining therefore the hypothesis that MgB₂ is a nonadiabatic metal. Received 31 July 2002 / Received in final form 21 September 2002 Published online 31 December 2002     

Charge d-wave topological insulator

Formation of a condensate of singlet electron-hole pairs in a two-dimensional metal lattice with the nesting of the Fermi contour is investigated. A numerical solution is obtained for the self-consistency equation for the insulating order parameter depending on the ratio of the coupling constants in the s- and d-wave channels of electron-hole pairing. Solutions with the pure orbital symmetry of s- and d-type are found, as well as solutions with the mixed s + d-symmetry. It is shown that in a wide range of values of the s- and d-wave coupling constants, the two-dimensional insulating order with the orbital symmetry $d_{x^2 - y^2 } $ can compete with pure ordered s- and d _xy -states and mixed s + d-states. Time reversal symmetry breaking under an established real order with $d_{x^2 - y^2 } $ -wave symmetry may generate the imaginary component of the order parameter with symmetry d _xy and cause a rise in topologically nontrivial d + id-wave ordering similar to the quantum Hall state in the absence of external magnetic field.     

Competition mechanism between singlet and triplet superconductivity in the tight-binding model with anisotropic attractive potential

Based upon the tight-binding formalism a model of a high-T_c superconductor with isotropic and anisotropic attractive interactions is considered analytically. Symmetry facets of the group C_4v are included within a method of successive transformations of the reciprocal space. Complete sets of basis functions of C_4v irreducible representations are given. Plausible spin-singlet and spin-triplet superconducting states are classified with regard to the chosen basis functions. It is displayed that pairing interaction coefficients and the dispersion relation, which can be characterized by the parameter η= 2t₁/t₀, have a diverse and mutually competing influence on the value of the transition temperature. It is also shown that in the case of a nearly half-filled conduction band and an anisotropic pairing interaction the spin-singlet d-wave symmetry superconducting state is realized for small values of the parameter η, whereas in the opposite limit, for sufficiently large values, the spin-triplet p-wave symmetry superconducting state has to be formed. This result cannot be obtained within the Van Hove scenario or BCS-type approaches, where the p-wave symmetry superconducting state absolutely dominates. The specific heat jump and the isotope shift as functions of the parameter η are assessed and discussed for the d-wave symmetry singlet and the p-wave symmetry triplet states.     

Electronic inhomogeneities,electron-lattice and pairing interactions in high-T c superconductors

The presence of electronic inhomogeneities strongly reduces the screening of the electron-ion interaction in high-temperature superconductors. This implies the existence of an non-totally screened long-range contribution to the electron-lattice coupling and opens an additional channel for the formation of copper pairs. We calculate the superconducting order parameter taking into account a) the longrange and the short-range parts of the electron-lattice interaction and b) the Coulomb repulsion between charge-carriers. We show that whereas the long-range electron-lattice coupling determines the anisotropy of the order parameter, the Coulomb repulsion and the short-range interactions determine its symmetry. Thus, different high-T _c superconductors may have s- or d-wave symmetry, depending on the relative strength of the interactions involved in the pairing.     

Charge confinement effect in cuprate superconductors: an explanation for the normal-state resistivity and pseudogap

The fact that the stripe phase and pseudogap in the cuprate superconductors occur in the same doping regime is emphasized. A model based on charge confinement in self-organized nanometer-scale stripe fragments is proposed to understand various generic features of the normal-state energy gap including the magnitude of the gap, its anti-correlation with the superconducting gap, and the d-wave symmetry in its -dependence. This model also provides a basis for understanding other anomalous normal-state properties such as the linear temperature dependence of electrical resistivity. Received 7 December 1998     

Combined effect of nonmagnetic and magnetic scatterers on the critical temperatures of superconductors with different anisotropies of the gap

The combined effect of nonmagnetic and magnetic defects and impurities on the critical temperatures of superconductors with different anisotropies of the gap is studied theoretically within the weak coupling limit of the BCS model. An expression is derived which relates the critical temperature to the relaxation rates of charge carriers on non-magnetic and magnetic scatterers and to the coefficient of anisotropy of the superconducting order parameter on the Fermi surface. The particular cases of d-wave, (s+d)-wave, and anisotropic s-wave superconductors are briefly discussed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 66, No. 10, 627–632 (25 November 1997) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

On the role of the Coulomb interaction in the mechanism of d-wave Cooper pairing of charge carriers in high-T c superconductors

The question of the effect of the structure of the anisotropic quasi-two-dimensional electron spectrum of high-T _c superconductors on the character of the screening of the Coulomb interaction and the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter is studied. Calculations of the polarization operator of electrons are performed on the basis of the single-particle band spectrum extracted from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy data. It is shown that the static screened Coulomb repulsion has a minimum at small momentum transfers. This corresponds to an effective electron-electron attraction in the -wave channel of Cooper pairing of the charge carriers on account of their interaction with the long-wavelength charge-density fluctuations. This attraction together with the anisotropic electron-phonon interaction increase the critical superconducting transition temperature T _c with increasing hole density and can give quite high values of T _c while at the same time suppressing the isotope effect, in qualitative agreement with the experimental data for underdoped hole-type cuprate metal-oxide compounds. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 10, 703–710 (25 May 1999)     

Superconductivity in weakly correlated electron systems

We study the influence of the short-ranged Hubbard correlation U between the conduction electrons on the Cooper pair formation in normal (s-wave) superconductors. The Coulomb correlation is considered within the standard second order perturbation theory, which becomes exact in the weak coupling limit but goes beyond the simple Hartree-Fock treatment by yielding a finite lifetime of the quasiparticles at finite temperature. An attractive pairing interaction V, which may be mediated by the standard electron-phonon mechanism, is considered between nearest neighbor sites. A critical value for the attractive interaction is required to obtain a superconducting state. For finite temperature a gapless superconductivity is obtained due to the finite lifetime of the quasiparticles, i.e. the Coulomb correlation has a pair-breaking influence. The energy gap and depend very sensitively on U, V and band filling n and develop a maximum away from half filling as function of n. The ratio varies with n, being higher than the BCS value near half filling and reaching the BCS value for lower n. Received 17 February 1999     

Near threshold photoionization of excited alkali atoms Ak(np) (Ak = Na, K, Rb, Cs; n = 3-6)

The effect of the polarization of the atomic core by the outer electron on near threshold photoionization of excited alkali atoms Ak(np) (Ak = Na-Cs; n=3-6) is investigated. Partial and total cross-sections for photo-ionization of the np-electron were computed utilizing the configuration interaction technique with Pauli-Fock atomic orbitals (CIPF) and including the long range core polarization potential (CP). To calculate the core polarization potential the variational principle is applied. Comparison with previous theoretical results and with available experimental data is made for the total cross-section , for the electron angular distribution parameter , for the ratio of the reduced electric dipole matrix elements and for the phase shift difference , associated with the d-wave and s-wave continua, respectively. In the comparison, new experimental results for , , and , measured for laser-excited, polarized ³⁹K(4p _3/2) atoms, have been included. Received 21 July 1999 and Received in final form 14 October 1999     

Field-angle dependence of the quasiparticle scattering inside a vortex core in unconventional superconductors

We theoretically investigate the quasiparticle scattering rate Γ inside a vortex core in the existence of non-magnetic impurities distributed randomly in a superconductor. We show that the dependence of Γ on the magnetic field direction is sensitive to the sign of the pair potential. The behavior of Γ is quite different between an s-wave and a d-wave pair potential, where these are assumed to have the same amplitude anisotropy, but a sign change only for the d-wave one. It is suggested that measurements of the microwave surface impedance with changing applied-field directions would be used for the phase-sensitive identification of pairing symmetry.