Superconductivity. A new approach based on the Bethe-Salpeter equation in the mean-field approximation (Q5890522)

The book is devoted to a generalization of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) equations (GBCSEs) in order to assess the superconducting features of non-elemental superconductors (SCs) in the manner elemental SCs are dealt with in the original theory. NEWLINEThe book is divided into twelve chapters. NEWLINEChapter 1 adopts the framework of the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) being in the centre of the monograph. NEWLINEAn approach to the relativistic bound-state problem considers a subset which, by containing an infinite number of diagrams, leads to a tractable problem. NEWLINEThe subset consists of ladder diagrams built with free single-particle propagators. NEWLINEThe chapter considers the BSE in the ladder approximation for the simplest case of spinless particles. NEWLINESuperconductivity is based on the formation of Cooper pairs (states of two electrons). NEWLINEChapter 2 obtains the BSE for the bound state of two fermions and introduces the conception of instantaneous approximation (IA) without specifying the kernel of the equation being temperature-generalized via the Matsubara technique. NEWLINEThe T-generalized BSE is applied to both elemental and composite SCs by approximately choosing its kernel in the mean-field approximation. NEWLINEIn order to juxtapose the conventional approach to superconductivity with the BSE-based approach, the author discusses in Chapter 3 the major results of the Cooper problem and BCS theory via the solution of the two-electron Cooper problem. NEWLINEBy considering the conventional approach, the differences in the conceptual frameworks of the two approaches are stated. NEWLINETo address multi-component SCs, Chapter 4 requires a propagator for multiple-phonon exchanges (or superpropagator). NEWLINEThe author discusses anisotropy of composite SC structure, which comprises more than one sub-lattice containing two species of ions of unequal masses in layers. NEWLINEThen, twin concepts of a superpropagator and multiple Debye temperatures (MDTs) are adapted to obtain GBCSEs and the Bogoliubov constraint is considered in the application of these equations. NEWLINEChapter 5 reviews the Suhl-Matthias-Walker (SMW) approach and draws attention to an important feature of it. NEWLINEBoth approaches (GBCSEs and SMW) are applied to a study of the critical temperature and the gaps of \(\mathrm{MgB}_2\). NEWLINEChapter 6 considers the superconducting state of \(\mathrm{MgB}_2\) and calculates thermal conductivity based on the results for \(\mathrm{MgB}_2\) via GBCSEs and Gelikman (G) and Gelikman-Kresin (GK) equations, test data on thermal conductivity is considered. NEWLINEChapter 7 obtains for the gap of an elemental SC an equation incorporating T and H, appealing to the Landau quantization (LQ) scheme additionally to the Matsubara prescription. NEWLINEThis equation is solved at various cases of T and H. NEWLINEChapter 8 presents an approach to calculate the critical current density of an SC based on the dynamics of Cooper pairs (CPs). NEWLINEEquations for the critical momentum of CPs in a simple SC are obtained. NEWLINEThe equations for the critical current density, obtained for elemental SCs, are generalized for non-elemental SCs. NEWLINEChapter 9 studies BCS-BEC crossover physics without appeal to scattering length theory (SLT). NEWLINEThe usual BCS equations for gap and chemical potential are solved, considered by Eagles. NEWLINEAs a result, the BCS theory allows to obtain finite results without the restrictions of the SLT approach, and a frame picture of the crossover phenomenon is stated. NEWLINEChapter 10 discusses experimental observations of the same value of critical temperature for two different values of electron concentration in superconducting \(\mathrm{SrTiO}_3\). NEWLINEThe puzzle for the theory explains this result and it is considered in this chapter on the base of treatment of the \(\mu\)-incorporated equations given in Chapter 9. NEWLINEChapter 11 tries to understand the behavior of \(\mathrm{La}_2\mathrm{CuO}_4\) (LCO) and heavy-fermion superconductors (HFSCs). It is explained that the observed multiple gap values require not only equations for the gap and critical temperature, including the chemical potential as a variable, but a new physical approach based on experimental results of \textit{M. Le Tacon} et al. [``Inelastic X-ray scattering in Ba\(_2\)Cu\(_3\)O\(_{6.6}\) reveals giant phonon anomalies and elastic central peak due to charge-density-wave formation'', Nature Phys. 10, 52--58 (2014; \url{doi:10.1038/nphys2805})] revealed for YBCO. NEWLINEBy adapting these results for LCO, the author enables to account for all values of its gap-to-critical temperature ratio. NEWLINEThe final chapter gives a brief account of the work done on solar emission lines (which are not directly connected with superconductivity, but based on the BSE + Matsubara approach).NEWLINENEWLINEIn total, this book develops a new approach to the problems of superconductivity and will be useful for students learning this subject and interesting for specialists working in this area.