Possible mechanism of Cooper pairing in HTS cuprates

Abstract

In this study, the possible pairing mechanism based on attraction between electrons from adjacent CuO2 layers is proposed. Initially, each CuO2 layer was found to expand the Fermi sphere owing to ridged geometry. When the two layers are close enough for tunneling, it becomes energetically advantageous to form correlated quantum states (CQS), reducing the Fermi sphere volume. Cooper pairs, comprising inter-tunneling electrons, occupy the CQS. The image force is responsible for the electron-electron attraction. Energy exchange between the paired electrons happens through photons. Pair-binding energy and the corresponding effective mass vary in a wide range. At T>0, some heavy pairs do not condense. Such pairs are responsible for pseudogap. Light pairs get Bose condensed and are responsible for superconductivity. The proposed mechanism provides possible explanation of two energy gaps and two characteristic temperatures in cuprates. It also provides clarification on the unconventional isotopic effect, Fermi surface pockets, anisotropy of charge transport, and other properties of HTS cuprates. The pseudogap, calculated within the model, is close to the experimental values for the two-layer cuprates, such as YBCO, Bi2212, Tl2212, and Hg1212. It has been shown that the model can be extended to multiple and single-layer cuprates.