We develop a variational many-body description of low-density three-dimensional paired electron crystals. Among the ground states of such crystals we find that coherent paired supersolids (resonant spin states) and true paired crystals (fixed spin states) can both be favored at intermediate densities (100≲${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$≲200) relative to the well-known conventional (Bravais lattice) Wigner crystals. The stabilization of this pairing is largely exchange driven and if it persists at higher densities (even beyond melting) then we show that for an intermediate density electron fluid an evolution into a superconducting state of unusual character can occur.

• Received 21 May 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.48.11646