Pair density wave order from electron repulsion

A pair density wave (PDW) is a superconductor whose order parameter is a periodic function of space, without an accompanying spatially-uniform component. Since PDWs are not the outcome of a weak-coupling instability of a Fermi liquid, an intrinsic pairing mechanism for PDW order has remained elusive.  We describe and solve models having robust PDW phases:  Fermi liquids with repulsive BCS interactions.  We obtain a phase diagram with both finite temperature transitions to PDW order, and a T=0 PDW quantum critical point where the Fermi liquid description breaks down.  If time permits, we will describe the manifestation of these ideas in the case of electrons on the Kagome lattice near a van Hove filling.

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