THE CU-O-CU BOND AS KEY TO THE CUPRATES HIGH
TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
Guy Deutscher
School of Physics and astronomy, Tel Aviv University
A new mechanism for the formation of pairs in High Tc cuprates has been recently
proposed (1). It involves a local deformation of the lattice which shortens neighboring
Cu-O bonds, thus putting the molecular link Cu-O-Cu at the center of pair formation.
The destruction of superconductivity at grain boundaries, where such links are
broken, is thus of an intrinsic nature. In order for this mechanism to work the energy
gained by pair formation must be of the order of a fraction of the band width, meaning
that it is basically a high temperature phenomenon. Recent experimental results
pointing out to phenomena possibly showing symmetry breaking above room
temperature will be discussed.
1) G. Deutscher and P. G. de Gennes, C.R. Physique, 8, 937 (2007).
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