Electronic spectral function in the fractionalized pair density wave scenario

Abstract

Studies of the electronic spectral function in cuprates by Angle-Resolved Photo-Emission Spectroscopy reveal unusual features in the pseudogap phase that persist in the superconducting phase. We address here these observations based on the recently proposed idea that the pseudogap is due to the fractionalization of modulated particle-particle pairs (a Pair Density Wave) into uniform particle-particle and modulated particle-hole pairs. The constraint that appears between these two types of pairs can be seen has an amplitude for the pseudogap energy scale. This constraint directly modify the electronic spectral function in the pseudogap phase. We derive a self-consistent equation for the pseudogap amplitude and show that it leads to the formation of Fermi arcs. The band dispersion obtained in the anti-nodal region is in good agreement with experimental ARPES observations in Pb$_{0.55}$Bi$_{1.5}$Sr$_{1.6}$La$_{0.4}$CuO$_{6+\delta}$ (Bi2201) and present a back-bending that goes to the Fermi level as we go away from the antinodal region. We also discuss the temperature dependence of the ARPES spectrum in the pseudogap and in the superconducting state.