High-Temperature Superconductivity

I first learned of the existence of this book on high-temperature superconduc- tivity when I received a copy in the office of one of the co-editors, Prof. V. L. Ginzburg, shortly after publication. I had known of the work on problems and prospects of achieving high-temperature superconductors by the members of the I. E. Tamm Department of Theoretical Physics of the P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute. I was naturally anxious to read and study this volume, which inte- grates the work of more than a decade. Lest one think that the contributions contained here are of the nature of a reflective looking backward, two important considerations should be kept in mind. First, achievement of high-Tc superconductivity is very much a current and future goal. Elsewhere, one of the authors has described it in these words: "Yes, high-temperature superconductivity is a dream, but a sufficiently realistic one. " Second, the current physics literature contains reports of new and astounding findings-perhaps some of these will later be recognized as precursors to achieving the "dream.

Table of Contents:
1. The Problem of High-Temperature Superconductivity (General Review).- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Nature and Mechanisms of Superconductivity. High-Temperature Superconductivity (Formulation of the Problem).- 3. Some Remarks on the Computation of the Critical Temperature.- 4. The Exciton Mechanism of Superconductivity (The Generalized “Jellium” Model; General Considerations).- 5. Ways of Producing High-Temperature Superconductors (Some Possibilities and Applications).- 6. Conclusion.- 2. The Critical Temperature of a Superconducting System.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Interelectron Interaction and the Permittivity.- 3. Equation for the Critical Temperature.- 4. The Critical Temperature.- 5. Applications to the Problem of High-Temperature Superconductivity (General Conclusions).- 3. The Electron-Phonon Interaction in Metals and the Problem of Lattice Stability.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Fröhlich Model.- 3. The Adiabatic Approximation.- 4. The Plasma Model.- 5. Self-Consistent Description of the Electron-Phonon System of a Metal.- 4. Superconductivity in Three-Dimensional Quasiisotropic Systems.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Description of the Superconducting State in a Quasiisotropic Three-Dimensional System.- 3. The Critical Temperature of Superconductors with Strong Electron-Phonon Interaction.- 4. Computation of the Electron-Phonon Coupling Constant in Metals.- 5. Dependence of the Critical Temperature on the Properties of the Normal Metal.- 6. Superconductivity and Lattice Instability.- 7. Possibility of a Nonphonon Mechanism of Superconductivity in Three-Dimensional Systems.- 5. Possibility of an Increase in the Critical Temperature as a Result of a Structural-Transition-Induced Change in the Electron Spectrum.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Ground State of a Semimetal in thePresence of Simultaneous Electron-Hole and Electron-Electron Pairings.- 3. Incompatibility of the Superconducting and Dielectric Pairings in the Case when the Electron and Hole Fermi Surfaces Coincide in Shape and Size.- 4. Coexistence of the Dielectric and Superconducting Pairings in a Doped Semimetal.- 5. Conclusion.- 6. Electronic Properties and Superconductivity of Layered Crystals.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Structure and Physical Properties of Layered Metals.- 3. The Critical Temperature of Layered Superconductors.- 4. Intercalation and the Problem of High-Temperature Superconductivity.- 5. Fluctuations in Two-Dimensional and Quasi-Two-Dimensional Systems.- 6. Specific Character of the Superconducting Properties of Layered Crystals with the Josephson Interlayer Interaction.- 7. Conclusion.- 7. Structural and Superconducting Properties of Systems with One-Dimensional Anisotropy.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Peierls Transition in Square-Planar Complexes.- 3. TCNQ Salts with Asymmetric Cations.- 4. The Peierls Transition in TCNQ Salts with Symmetric Cations.- 5. Metallic Systems without Metal Atoms.- 6. Superconductivity in Quasi-One-Dimensional and Organic Crystals.- 8. Superconducting Systems of the “Sandwich” Type.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Estimates of the Tc for “Sandwiches” in Certain Models.- 3. Surface Effects in Layered Structures.- 9. Superconductivity under Nonequilibrium Conditions.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Possibility of the Tc’s Rising under the Action of an External Field.- 3. Superconductivity under Nonequilibrium Conditions in the Presence of Repulsive Interelectron Interaction.- 4. Some Properties of Superconductors with an Inverted Population.- 5. Anomalous Paramagnetism in a Nonequilibrium Superconductor.- 6. Conclusion.- References.