No Arabic abstract
The t-t-t-J model of electrons interacting with three phonon modes (breathing, apical breathing, and buckling) is considered. The wave-vector dependence of the matrix elements of the electron-phonon interaction leads to opposite contributions to the pairing potential with the d-symmetry: the buckling mode facilitates electron pairing, while the breathing mode suppresses it. As a result, the critical temperature of La{2 - x}Sr{x}CuO{4} that is associated with the magnetic mechanism is lowered when phonons are taken into account.
Coupling between electrons and phonons (lattice vibrations) drives the formation of the electron pairs responsible for conventional superconductivity. The lack of direct evidence for electron-phonon coupling in the electron dynamics of the high transition temperature superconductors has driven an intensive search for an alternative mechanism. A coupling of an electron with a phonon would result in an abrupt change of its velocity and scattering rate near the phonon energy. Here we use angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy to probe electron dynamics -velocity and scattering rate- for three different families of copper oxide superconductors. We see in all of these materials an abrupt change of electron velocity at 50-80meV, which we cannot explain by any known process other than to invoke coupling with the phonons associated with the movement of the oxygen atoms. This suggests that electron-phonon coupling strongly influences the electron dynamics in the high-temperature superconductors, and must therefore be included in any microscopic theory of superconductivity.
We study the effect of strong electron-phonon interactions on the damping of the Higgs amplitude mode in superconductors by means of non-equilibrium dynamical mean-field simulations of the Holstein model. In contrast to the BCS dynamics, we find that the damping of the Higgs mode strongly depends on the temperature, becoming faster as the systen approaches the transition temperature. The damping at low temperatures is well described by a power-law, while near the transition temperature the damping shows exponential-like behavior. We explain this crossover by a temperature-dependent quasiparticle lifetime caused by the strong electron- phonon coupling, which smears the superconducting gap edge and makes the relaxation of the Higgs mode into quasiparticles more efficient at elevated temperatures. We also reveal that the phonon dynamics can soften the Higgs mode, which results in a slower damping.
We suggest, and demonstrate, a systematic approach to the study of cuprate superconductors, namely, progressive change of ion size in order to systematically alter the interaction strength and other key parameters. R(Ba,Sr)$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ (R={La, ... Lu,Y}) is such a system where potentially obscuring structural changes are minimal. We thereby systematically alter both dielectric and magnetic properties. Dielectric fluctuation is characterized by ionic polarizability while magnetic fluctuation is characterized by exchange interactions measurable by Raman scattering. The range of transition temperatures is 70 to 107 K and we find that these correlate only with the dielectric properties, a behavior which persists with external pressure. The ultimate significance may remain to be proven but it highlights the role of dielectric screening in the cuprates and adds support to a previously proposed novel pairing mechanism involving exchange of quantized waves of electronic polarization.
A magnetic field relaxation at the center of a pulse-magnetized single-domain Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductor at 78K has been studied. In case of a weak magnetization, the magnetic flux density increases logarithmically and normalized relaxation rate defined as S=-d(lnB)/d(lnt) is negative (S=-0.037). When an external magnetic field magnitude increases, the relaxation rate first decreases in absolute value, then changes sign (becomes positive, S>0) and after reaching some maximum finally reduces to a very small value. Non-monotonous dependence of S vs Ha is explained by a non-homogeneous local temperature distribution during a pulse magnetization.
The determination of the most appropriate starting point for the theoretical description of Fe-based materials hosting high temperature superconductivity remains among the most important unsolved problem in this relatively new field. Most of the work to date has focused on the pnictides, with LaFeAsO, BaFe2As2 and LiFeAs being representative parent compounds of three families known as 1111, 122 and 111, respectively. This Topic Review examines recent progress in this area, with particular emphasis on the implication of experimental data which have provided evidence for the presence of electron itinerancy and the detection of local spin moments. In light of the results presented, the necessity of a theoretical framework contemplating the presence and the interplay between itinerant electrons and large spin moments is discussed. It is argued that the physics at the heart of the macroscopic properties of pnictides Fe-based high temperature superconductors appears to be far more complex and interesting than initially predicted.