Interpretation of temperature-dependent resistivity of electron-doped cuprates

Abstract

The temperature-dependent normal state resistivity of single-crystal Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4−δ is theoretically analysed within the framework of the classical electron–phonon model of resistivity, i.e. the Bloch–Gruneisen model. Due to inherent acoustic (low-frequency) phonons (ωac) as well as high-frequency optical phonons (ωop), the contributions to the resistivity have first been estimated. The optical phonons of the oxygen-breathing mode yield a relatively larger contribution to the resistivity compared to the contribution of acoustic phonons. The contribution to resistivity estimated by considering both phonons, i.e. ωac and ωop, along with the zero limited resistivity, when subtracted from single-crystal data, infers a quadratic temperature dependence over most of the temperature range (25 ≤ T ≤ 300 K). The quadratic temperature dependence of ρdiff = [ρexp − {ρ0 + ρe-ph( = ρac + ρop)}] is understood in terms of electron–electron inelastic scattering. The comparison of single-crystal experimental data with the present analysis appears to be favourable.