Electron-phonon interactions cause high-temperature superconductivity

Abstract

What is the microscopic interaction responsible for high temperature superconductivity? Here data on temporal relaxation of T _c and the room temperature conductivity in YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x after abrupt alteration by light pulses or pressure changes are analysed. The analysis proves, independently of microscopic details, that only electron-phonon interactions can cause high-temperature superconductivity in the cuprates; all other dynamic interactions are excluded by experiment.