Effective theory of superconductivity in strongly coupled amorphous materials

Abstract

A theory of phonon-mediated superconductivity in strong-coupling amorphous materials is developed based on an effective description of structural disorder and its effect on the vibrational spectrum. The theory accounts for the diffusive-like transport of vibrational excitations due to disorder-induced scattering within the Eliashberg theory of strong-coupling superconductivity. The theory provides a good analytical description of the Eliashberg function $\alpha^{2}F(\omega)$ in comparison with experiments, and allows one to disentangle the effects of transverse and longitudinal excitations on the Eliashberg function. In particular, it shows that the transverse excitations play a crucial role in driving an increase or excess in the Eliashberg function at low energy, which is related to the boson peak phenomenon in vibrational spectra of glasses. This low-energy excess, on one hand drives an enhancement of the electron-phonon coupling but at the same time reduces the characteristic energy scale $\omega_{log}$ in the Allen-Dynes formula. As a consequence, the non-monotonicity of $T_{c}$ as a function of alloying (disorder) in $\text{Pb}$-based systems can be rationalized. The case of $\text{Al}$-based systems, where disorder increases $T_{c}$ from the start, is also analyzed. General material-design principles for enhancing $T_{c}$ in amorphous superconductors are presented.