Theoretical predictions of superconductivity in alkali metals under high pressure

We calculated the superconductivity properties of alkali metals under high pressure using the results of band theory and the rigid-muffin-tin theory of Gaspari and Gyorffy. Our results suggest that at high pressures lithium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium would be superconductors with transition temperatures approaching 5-20 K. Our calculations also suggest that sodium would not be a superconductor under high pressure even if compressed to less than half of its equilibrium volume. We found that the compression of the lattice strengthens the electron-phonon coupling through a delicately balanced increase of both the electronic and phononic components of this coupling. This increase of the electron-phonon coupling in Li is due to an enhancement of the s-p channel of the interaction, while in the heavier elements the p-d channel is the dominant component.