The electron-phonon theory of superconductors: Tc map and vertex correction

Abstract

The strong coupling Eliashberg theory plus vertex correction is used to calculate maps of transition temperature (Tc) in parameter-space characterizing superconductivity. Based on these Tc maps, crossover behaviors are found when electron-phonon interaction increases from weak-coupling region to strong coupling region. Especially, the combined interaction of vertex correction and Coulomb interaction can efficiently depress Tc from extremely high values in standard strong-coupling theory to reasonable values found in experiments and successfully explain the doing-dependent Tc of cuprate superconductors. The strong non-adiabatic effect is the barrier for high-Tc in compounds with compositions of light atoms and with high phonon frequencies.