Resonating valence bond theory

In condensed matter physics, the resonating valence bond theory (RVB) is a theoretical model that attempts to describe high-temperature superconductivity, and in particular the superconductivity in cuprate compounds. It was first proposed by an American physicist P. W. Anderson and Indian theoretical physicist Ganapathy Baskaran in 1987.[1][2] The theory states that in copper oxide lattices, electrons from neighboring copper atoms interact to form a valence bond, which locks them in place. However, with doping, these electrons can act as mobile Cooper pairs and are able to superconduct. Anderson observed in his 1987 paper that the origins of superconductivity in doped cuprates was in the Mott insulator nature of crystalline copper oxide.[3] RVB builds on the Hubbard and t-J models used in the study of strongly correlated materials.[4]

In 2014, evidence showing that fractional particles can happen in quasi two-dimensional magnetic materials, was found by EPFL scientists[5] lending support for Anderson's theory of high-temperature superconductivity.[6]

  1. ^ Mann, Adam (2011). "High-temperature superconductivity at 25: Still in suspense". Nature. 475 (7356): 280–282. Bibcode:2011Natur.475..280M. doi:10.1038/475280a. PMID 21776057.
  2. ^ Cho, Adrian (30 March 2020). "Philip Anderson, legendary theorist whose ideas shaped modern physics, dies". Science. AAAS. doi:10.1126/science.abb9809. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  3. ^ Zaanen, Jan (2010). "A modern, but way too short history of the theory of superconductivity at a high temperature". arXiv:1012.5461 [cond-mat.supr-con].
  4. ^ Weber, Cédric (2007). Variational Study of Strongly Correlated Electron Models (PDF). École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  5. ^ Piazza, B. Dalla (2015). "Fractional excitations in the square-lattice quantum antiferromagnet". Nature Physics. 11 (1): 62–68. arXiv:1501.01767. Bibcode:2015NatPh..11...62D. doi:10.1038/nphys3172. PMC 4340518. PMID 25729400.
  6. ^ "How electrons split: New evidence of exotic behaviors". Nanowerk. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Dec 23, 2014. Retrieved Dec 23, 2014.