A pseudopotential approach to the superconducting state properties of Cu-Zr metallic glasses

The superconducting state properties of the nine metallic glasses of Cu1-cZrc system have been investigated in the BCS-Eliashberg-McMillan framework by extending this theory to the binary metallic glasses. The values of superconducting state parameters, namely, the electron-phonon coupling strength (lambda), Coulomb pseudopotential (mu*), transition temperature (T-c), isotope effect exponent (a) and interaction strength (NoV) of Cu-Zr metallic glasses in the range 0.40 less than or equal to c less than or equal to 0.75 of Zr in Cu have been worked out using Ashcroft's potential along with the RPA form of the dielectric screening. The present results for T-c show an excellent agreement with the experimental data. The values of T-c, alpha and NoV are found to decrease continuously with increase of the Cu concentration in Zr, showing that Zr rich Cu-Zr glasses are favoured materials for superconductivity.