Generalization of the theory of the electron-phonon interaction: Thermodynamic formulation of superconducting- and normal-state properties

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.26.1186· OSTI ID:7058657

Pickett, W E

A thermodynamic formulation for the electron self-energy is given which is applicable when the electronic spectrum possesses structure on the scale of phonon frequencies, provided only that the ratio of phonon phase velocity to electron Fermi velocity is small. Electron-phonon, Coulomb, and electron-defect interactions are included on an equal footing and it is shown that their different frequency dependencies lead to specific effects on the Eliashberg self-energy: (a) the Coulomb interaction contributes nothing of essence to the normal-state self-energy (in this isotropic approximation) but retains its usual de-pairing effect upon the superconducting gap function, (b) defects affect superconducting properties primarily through a broadening of the electronic spectrum, and (c) phonons contribute a thermal shift and broadening as well as the mass enhancement. A generalization to intensive electron-phonon, electron-electron, and electron-defect interaction constants is necessary to redevelop an intuition into the effects of these interactions.

• Research Organization: Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
• OSTI ID: 7058657
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 26:3; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104 -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
656101* -- Solid State Physics-- Superconductivity-- General Theory-- (-1987)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALLOYS
BETA-W LATTICES
COULOMB FIELD
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRON-PHONON COUPLING
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY
ENERGY-LEVEL DENSITY
FERMIONS
GORKOV-ELIASHBERG THEORY
LEPTONS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SELF-ENERGY
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMICS
TIN ALLOYS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE