Role of the electron-phonon interaction in the strongly correlated cuprate superconductors

Abstract

Using high resolution angle-resolved photoemission data in conjunction with that from neutron and other probes, we show that electron-phonon (el-ph) coupling is strong in cuprates superconductors and it plays an important role in pairing. In addition to the strong electron correlation, the inclusion of phonons provides a theoretical framework explaining many important phenomena that cannot be understood by a strongly correlated electronic model alone. Especially it is indispensable to explain the difference among materials. The phonons with the wave number around the (0,qx) and (qx,0) axes create the d-wave pairing while that near (pi,pi) are pair breaking. Therefore the half-breathing mode of the oxygen motions helps d-wave superconductivity.