On the relaxation of the order parameter in the BCS model

The relaxation of the nonequilibrium order parameter (wave function of pairs) of a “pure” superconductor is considered for the homogeneous case. The relaxation is due to the electron-phonon interaction. The orderparameter relaxation time is shown to be much longer than the time interval between electron-electron collisions. This relation is explained by the smallness of the superconducting transition temperature compared to both the Fermi energy and the Debye energy in the BCS model.