Spin-flip pairing in CuO₂ superconductors

It is shown that virtual 2D paramagnon exchange in a material with short-range planar antiferromagnetic order leads to triplet pairing of itinerant electrons, in analogy to singlet pairing via virtual phonon exchange in BCS theory. Values of Tc for CuO2 layered perovskites are related by the theory to the electronic density of states and to a short-range magnetic order parameter. The theory is consistent with all well-established experimental and theoretical data for these materials. © 1989.