Phonons in A3C60 Lattice and Structural Dynamics

The critical temperature (𝑇𝐶) of superconductivity in A3C60 compounds is generally lower smaller with alkali atoms (A). Furthermore 𝑇𝐶 decreases with applied pressure. In the BCS model, these trends are explained by the lower density of states at the Fermi level for a decreased lattice constant (R)....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sven Larsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Advances in Condensed Matter Physics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/627452
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850163796439465984
author Sven Larsson
author_facet Sven Larsson
author_sort Sven Larsson
collection DOAJ
description The critical temperature (𝑇𝐶) of superconductivity in A3C60 compounds is generally lower smaller with alkali atoms (A). Furthermore 𝑇𝐶 decreases with applied pressure. In the BCS model, these trends are explained by the lower density of states at the Fermi level for a decreased lattice constant (R). There is more than one counterexample, however, suggesting that BCS does not give the whole truth. The most important one is that the compound with the largest lattice constant, Cs3C60, is not superconducting at all at ambient pressure. In this paper we derive a novel model where a negative lattice contribution to Hubbard U, proportional to 1/R, is taken into account. It is possible to explain why A3C60 compounds with A = Li, and Na have a low 𝑇𝐶 or are not superconducting at all, and why Cs3C60 is superconducting only at applied pressure and then with the highest 𝑇𝐶 of all C60 alkali fullerides. It is concluded that the density of states mechanism derived in the BCS model is in doubt. Nevertheless superconductivity in A3C60 depends on electron-phonon coupling. The dominating phonon is the bond stretching Ag phonon, a breathing phonon for the whole fullerene molecular ion.
format Article
id doaj-art-ed03ca128bd344ecbab7acc71cc01a85
institution OA Journals
issn 1687-8108
1687-8124
language English
publishDate 2010-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advances in Condensed Matter Physics
spelling doaj-art-ed03ca128bd344ecbab7acc71cc01a852025-08-20T02:22:09ZengWileyAdvances in Condensed Matter Physics1687-81081687-81242010-01-01201010.1155/2010/627452627452Phonons in A3C60 Lattice and Structural DynamicsSven Larsson0Department of Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, SwedenThe critical temperature (𝑇𝐶) of superconductivity in A3C60 compounds is generally lower smaller with alkali atoms (A). Furthermore 𝑇𝐶 decreases with applied pressure. In the BCS model, these trends are explained by the lower density of states at the Fermi level for a decreased lattice constant (R). There is more than one counterexample, however, suggesting that BCS does not give the whole truth. The most important one is that the compound with the largest lattice constant, Cs3C60, is not superconducting at all at ambient pressure. In this paper we derive a novel model where a negative lattice contribution to Hubbard U, proportional to 1/R, is taken into account. It is possible to explain why A3C60 compounds with A = Li, and Na have a low 𝑇𝐶 or are not superconducting at all, and why Cs3C60 is superconducting only at applied pressure and then with the highest 𝑇𝐶 of all C60 alkali fullerides. It is concluded that the density of states mechanism derived in the BCS model is in doubt. Nevertheless superconductivity in A3C60 depends on electron-phonon coupling. The dominating phonon is the bond stretching Ag phonon, a breathing phonon for the whole fullerene molecular ion.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/627452
spellingShingle Sven Larsson
Phonons in A3C60 Lattice and Structural Dynamics
Advances in Condensed Matter Physics
title Phonons in A3C60 Lattice and Structural Dynamics
title_full Phonons in A3C60 Lattice and Structural Dynamics
title_fullStr Phonons in A3C60 Lattice and Structural Dynamics
title_full_unstemmed Phonons in A3C60 Lattice and Structural Dynamics
title_short Phonons in A3C60 Lattice and Structural Dynamics
title_sort phonons in a3c60 lattice and structural dynamics
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/627452
work_keys_str_mv AT svenlarsson phononsina3c60latticeandstructuraldynamics