The chemical physics of unconventional superconductivity

Sumitendra Mazumdar, Rudolf Torsten Clay

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Attempts to explain correlated-electron superconductivity (SC) have largely focused on the proximity of the superconducting state to antiferromagnetism. Yet, there exist many correlated-electron systems that exhibit insulator-superconducting transitions where the insulating state exhibits spatial broken symmetry different from antiferromagnetism. Here, we focus on a subset of such compounds which are seemingly very different in which specific chemical stoichiometries play a distinct role, and small deviations from stoichiometry can destroy SC. These superconducting materials share a unique carrier concentration, at which we show there is a stronger than usual tendency to form local spin-singlets. We posit that SC is a consequence of these pseudomolecules becoming mobile as was suggested by Schafroth a few years prior to the advent of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1053-1059
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Quantum Chemistry
Volume114
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2014

Keywords

  • correlated-electron superconductivity
  • insulator-superconductor transition
  • organic superconductivity
  • unconventional superconductivity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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