A quantum phase transition driven by the electron lattice interaction gives high T-c superconductivity

We identify for the first time the quantum phase transition (QPT) as a func tion of the electron lattice interaction for charge localization in stripes with local lattice distortions in cuprate perovskites at metallic densitie s. The electron lattice interaction lambda(eta) is triggered at the localiz ation limit by the strain eta of the CuO2 plane due to the chemical pressur e generated by the mismatch between the copper oxide and the rocksalt layer s. The strain of the CuO2 plane has been directly measured by Cu K-edge EXA FS. The critical point for the ch;uge localization in striped lattice domai ns coexisting with itinerant carriers is at eta (c)=0.04 +/-0.005 and delta (c)=0.16 +/-0.03. We report a 2D plot T-c (delta,eta) for the doped perovs kites, where delta is the doping. The plot T-c(eta), for delta =constant, s hows the highest T-c at the critical point eta (c)=0.04 +/-0.01. The attrac tive pseudo Jahn-Teller (pJT) interaction and the particular critical charg e and spin fluctuations driven by critical ordering of cooperative pJT loca l lattice distortions, forming a superlattice of quantum stripes tuned at a 'shape resonance' near this quantum critical point, provide a possible sol ution for two long standing mysteries: the phase diagram and the pairing me chanism in cuprate superconducters. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.