Calculation of the electron-phonon spectral function of niobium
The electron--phonon spectral distribution function, ..cap alpha../sup 2/(..omega..)F(..omega..), was calculated for niobium. The energy bands and wavefunctions were obtained from a self-consistent APW muffin-tin potential, and the matrix elements were evaluated using the so-called rigid ion approximation. Details of the calculation are presented and results compared with recent tunneling experiments, which confirm that the electron--phonon interaction is nearly three times larger for transverse phonons compared to the longitudinal phonons. It is shown that screening is of great significance and evidence is given which suggests that the same screening by d-electrons which causes the dips in the phonon dispersion curves of Nb is responsible for enhancing the electron phonon matrix elements and hence T/sub c/. An omission in the formulas of Gaspari and Gyorffy is pointed out.
- Research Organization:
- Ames Lab., Iowa (USA); Argonne National Lab., Ill. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-82
- OSTI ID:
- 7348055
- Report Number(s):
- IS-M-75; CONF-760464-4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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