Pairing theory of polarons in real and momentum space

A consistent pairing theory of carriers in real (r) and k space is developed. The pairing of different free (F), delocalized (D), and localized (L) carriers in r space leading to the formation of various bipolaronic states is considered within the continuum model and adiabatic approximation, taking into account the combined effect of the short- and long-range components of the electron-lattice interaction with and without electron correlation. We calculate the formation possibility of D and L bipolarons and determine their concrete formation criteria as a function of var-epsilon ∞/var-epsilon 0. The pairing scenarios of carriers in k space leading to the formation of different bipolarons (including also Cooper pairs or dynamic bipolarons) are considered within a generalized BCS-like model, taking into account the combined phonon- and polaron-bag-mediated processes. It is shown that the pure BCS pairing picture is the particular case of a more general BCS-like one, and Bose-Einstein condensation of r-space or ideal-Bose-gas bipolarons is irrelevant to the superconductivity phenomenon. The possible relevance of the results obtained to the high-Tc superconductors is discussed in detail in the framework of a two-stage Fermi-Bose-liquid scenario of superconductivity that is caused by single-particle and pair condensation of attracting bipolarons. copyright 1996 The American Physical Society