  A theory of the fluctuation-induced Nernst effect is developed for arbitrary
magnetic fields and temperatures beyond the upper critical field line in a
two-dimensional superconductor. First, we derive a simple phenomenological
formula for the Nernst coefficient, which naturally explains the giant Nernst
signal due to fluctuating Cooper pairs. The latter is shown to be large even
far from the transition and may exceed by orders of magnitude the Fermi liquid
terms. We also present a complete microscopic calculation (which includes
quantum fluctuations) of the Nernst coefficient and give its asymptotic
dependencies in various regions on the phase diagram. It is argued that the
magnitude and the behavior of the Nernst signal observed experimentally in
disordered superconducting films can be well-understood on the basis of the
superconducting fluctuation theory.
