Superconductivity conduction electrons

The generally accepted theory of electric superconductivity of metals is based upon an assumed interaction between the conduction electrons and phonons in the crystal.1-3 The resonating-valence-bond theory, which is a theoiy of the electronic structure of metals developed about 20 years ago,4-6 provides the basis for a detailed description of the electron-phonon interaction, in relation to the atomic numbers of elements and the composition of alloys, and leads, as described below, to the conclusion that there are two classes of superconductors, crest superconductors and trough superconductors. 

In 1957, Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer published their theory of superconductivity, known as the BCS theory. It predicts that under certain conditions, the attraction between two conduction electrons due to a succession of phonon interactions can slightly exceed the repulsion that they exert directly on one another due to the Coulomb interaction of their like charges. The two electrons are thus weakly bound together forming a so-called Cooper pair. It is these Cooper pairs that are responsible for superconductivity. In conventional superconductors, these electrons are paired so that their spin and orbital angular momenta cancel. They are described by a wave function, known as an order parameter. In this case the order parameter has symmetry similar to that of the wave function of s electrons and represents a singlet state. 

As can be seen in Figure 6, Tc of RM2B2C compounds also much depends on the lattice parameters. As an example the dashed line represents the variation of Tc in a series with non-magnetic elements R. It should be noted that the effects of lattice parameters in Figure 6 cannot be explained by only taking into account the variation of N( p) in the expression (3), caused by the variation of the lattice parameters. In particular in CeN E C and YbN E C superconductivity is suppressed by strong hybridization of 4f electrons with conduction electrons (see Sections 4.2 and 4.12). 

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