Abstract
We analyze the properties of a general Ginzburg-Landau free energy with competing order parameters, long-range interactions, and global constraints (e.g., a fixed value of a total {open_quotes}charge{close_quotes}) to address the physics of stripe phases in underdoped high-T{sub c} and related materials. For a local free energy limited to quadratic terms of the gradient expansion, only uniform or phase-separated configurations are thermodynamically stable. {open_quotes}Stripe{close_quotes} or other nonuniform phases can be stabilized by long-range forces, but can only have nontopological (in-phase) domain walls where the components of the antiferromagnetic order parameter never change sign, and the periods of charge and spin-density waves coincide. The {ital antiphase} domain walls observed experimentally require physics on an intermediate length scale, and they are absent from a model that involves only long-distance physics. Dense stripe phases can be stable even in the absence of long-range forces, but domain walls always attract at large distances; i.e., there is a ubiquitous tendency to phase separation at small doping. The implications for the phase diagram of underdoped cuprates are discussed. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Highlights
SEPTEMBER 1999-IIKivelson Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
One of the fundamental issues in the theory of highly correlated solids is the nature of the ground-state phases produced when a small concentration x of ‘‘doped holes’’ is introduced into a Mott insulator, an antiferromagnet
We analyze the properties of a general Ginzburg-Landau free energy with competing order parameters, long-range interactions, and global constraintse.g., a fixed value of a total ‘‘charge’’͒ to address the physics of stripe phases in underdoped high-Tc and related materials
Summary
Kivelson Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095. Bazaliy Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, Calfornia 94305. We analyze the properties of a general Ginzburg-Landau free energy with competing order parameters, long-range interactions, and global constraintse.g., a fixed value of a total ‘‘charge’’͒ to address the physics of stripe phases in underdoped high-Tc and related materials. ‘‘Stripe’’ or other nonuniform phases can be stabilized by long-range forces, but can only have nontopologicalin-phasedomain walls where the components of the antiferromagnetic order parameter never change sign, and the periods of charge and spin-density waves coincide. Dense stripe phases can be stable even in the absence of long-range forces, but domain walls always attract at large distances; i.e., there is a ubiquitous tendency to phase separation at small doping. The implications for the phase diagram of underdoped cuprates are discussed. ͓S0163-1829͑99͒03734-0͔
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