BCS-Bose crossover theory extended with hole Cooper pairs

Abstract

Applying the generalized Bose–Einstein condensation (GBEC) formalism, we extend the BCS-Bose crossover theory by explicitly including hole Cooper pairs (2hCPs). From this follows a phase diagram with two pure phases, one with 2hCPs and the other with electron Cooper pairs (2eCPs), plus a mixed phase with arbitrary proportions of 2eCPs and 2hCPs. One has a special-case phase when there is perfect symmetry (i.e., with ideal 50–50 proportions between 2eCPs and 2hCPs). Explicitly including 2hCPs leads to an extended BCS-Bose crossover which predicts [Formula: see text] values for some well-known conventional superconductors (SCs) (i.e., assuming electron–phonon dynamics). These compare reasonably well with experimental data. We compare with experimental [Formula: see text] values for some conventional SCs associated with the new dimensionless number density [Formula: see text] with theoretical curves associated with the extended crossover for the special case of perfect symmetry. They all obey the Bogoliubov et al. upper limit, thus vindicating it.