Non-BCS Pairing by a Singular Dynamical Interaction

Abstract

This review examines the theory of superconductivity in systems with {\em singular dynamical} electron-electron interaction and contrasts it with a conventional BCS superconductivity. Examples include metals near a Quantum Critical Point, quantum dots and system near a localization (Mott) transition. We show, that the singular interaction destroys the traditional separation of energy scales, invalidating the significance of Cooper logarithm, and, as the consequence, the whole BCS framework. We explore the universal model with dynamical interaction $Γ(Ω) \propto 1/|Ω|^γ$ (the $γ$-model) and analyze the competition/interplay between the tendency towards pairing and towards non-Fermi liquid behavior. We show that superconductivity still develops once the pairing interaction exceeds a certain threshold, but the origin of the pairing is qualitatively different from that in BCS theory. We show that the gap equation at $T=0$ has an infinite set of topologically distinct solutions. These solution disappear one by one once the pairing interaction becomes non-singular (massive). We review the physics underlying these phenomena and outline future directions.