Interband Electron Pairing for Superconductivity from the Breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer Approximation

Chemphyschem. 2018 Oct 8. doi: 10.1002/cphc.201800738. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The origin of interband electron pairing, responsible for enhancing superconductivity, and the factors controlling its strength were examined. We show that interband electron pairing is a natural consequence of breaking down the Born-Oppenheimer approximation during electron-phonon interactions. Its strength is determined by the pair-state excitations around the Fermi surfaces that take place to form a superconducting state. Fermi surfaces favorable for the pairing were found, and the implications of this observation are discussed.

Keywords: Born-Oppenheimer approximation; Fermi surfaces; interband electron pairing; metals; multiband superconductivity.