A possible mechanism for high temperature superconductivity in the cuprates

Abstract

Several ideas that have been shown to apply to superconductors and the cuprates in particular are joined together to form a mechanism for high temperature superconductivity. The mechanism is basically a weak BCS(1)type coupling between the holes formed in doping the crystal and the optical modes that can be excited when the stripes that are formed beat against one another. The fundamental energy scale set by the normal modes of the oscillating stripes (strions) is of the order of an electron volt. Thus the mechanism allows for room temperature superconductivity. Several important experimental observations are in agreement with the predictions of this theory. Direct observation of the strions might be possible in electron energy loss experiments.