English

Superconductivity in compressed iron: Role of spin fluctuations

Superconductivity 2009-11-07 v1

Abstract

The recent discovery of superconductivity in hexagonal iron under pressure poses a question about whether it is of conventional (phonon) or unconventional (magnetic?) origin. We present first-principles calculations of the electron-phonon coupling in iron at P\agt15P\agt 15 GPa, and argue that a conventional mechanism can explain the appearance of superconductivity, but not its rapid disappearance at P\agt30P\agt 30 GPa. We suggest that spin fluctuations, ferro- and/or antiferromagnetic, play a crucial role in superconductivity in this case.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0110297,
  title  = {Superconductivity in compressed iron: Role of spin fluctuations},
  author = {I. I. Mazin and D. A. Papaconstantopoulos and M. J. Mehl},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0110297},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

4 pages, revtex, 3 figs embedded