Underdoped High-temperature Superconductors Research Articles

Normal-state charge transport in YBa2Cu3O6.67 under uniaxial stress

To provide a foundation for theoretical models of high-temperature superconductivity, experimental research has sought to establish correspondences between macroscopic transport coefficients on the one hand, and atomic-scale correlation functions measured by spectroscopic and scattering probes on the other hand. This research avenue has been confounded by the gradual onset of electronic ordering phenomena and of the corresponding transport anomalies. We report measurements of the uniaxial-stress dependence of the normal-state resistivity and Hall coefficient of the underdoped high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O6.67. We observe a remarkable correspondence between the differential stress responses of the transport coefficients and resonant X-ray diffraction features indicative of charge ordering, which parallels the phenomenology of classical charge-density-wave compounds. However, our observations imply that static charge order is not responsible for a sign reversal of the Hall coefficient, and suggest that the interplay with liquid-like, dynamical charge correlations is essential for the prominent transport anomalies in the underdoped cuprates.

Intrinsic hallmarks of phonon-induced charge order in cuprates

Charge-density wave (CDW) modulations in underdoped high-temperature cuprate superconductors remain a central puzzle in condensed matter physics. However, despite a substantial experimental verification of this ubiquitous phase in a large class of high ${T}_{c}$ cuprates, a complete theoretical explanation of this phase is still missing. Here, we build upon our recent proposal that the CDW in underdoped cuprates (Y- and Bi- based compounds) emerges from a unique cooperation of the ${\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}B}_{1g}$ bond-buckling phonon with strong electronic correlations. We assume a static mean-field lattice distortion with ${\mathrm{B}}_{1g}$ symmetry, regardless of its origin, with a commensurate wave vector ${\mathbf{q}}^{*}=(2\ensuremath{\pi}/3,0)/(0,2\ensuremath{\pi}/3)$. We show that such a phonon-induced CDW (both uni- and biaxial) reconstructs the Fermi surface, leading to electron and hole pockets, with relevant quantum oscillation frequencies in close consistency with the experiments. Furthermore, a systematic analysis of the symmetry of the intra-unit-cell charge modulations on the copper-oxygen planes is provided. We find that the atomic charge modulation on the $\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ unit cell is predominantly of $s$-wave character, in support of the recent experimental observation.

Unconventional quantum vortex matter state hosts quantum oscillations in the underdoped high-temperature cuprate superconductors

A central question in the underdoped cuprates pertains to the nature of the pseudogap ground state. A conventional metallic ground state of the pseudogap region has been argued to host quantum oscillations upon destruction of the superconducting order parameter by modest magnetic fields. Here, we use low applied measurement currents and millikelvin temperatures on ultrapure single crystals of underdoped [Formula: see text] to unearth an unconventional quantum vortex matter ground state characterized by vanishing electrical resistivity, magnetic hysteresis, and nonohmic electrical transport characteristics beyond the highest laboratory-accessible static fields. A model of the pseudogap ground state is now required to explain quantum oscillations that are hosted by the bulk quantum vortex matter state without experiencing sizable additional damping in the presence of a large maximum superconducting gap; possibilities include a pair density wave.

Charge Density Waves in YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6.67} Probed by Resonant X-Ray Scattering under Uniaxial Compression.

We report a comprehensive Cu L_{3}-edge resonant x-ray scattering (RXS) study of two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) incommensurate charge correlations in single crystals of the underdoped high-temperature superconductor YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6.67} under uniaxial compression up to 1% along the two inequivalent Cu─O─Cu bond directions (a and b) in the CuO_{2} planes. We confirm the strong in-plane anisotropy of the 2D charge correlations and observe their symmetric response to pressure: pressure along a enhances correlations along b, and vice versa. Our results imply that the underlying order parameter is uniaxial. In contrast, 3D long-range charge order is only observed along b in response to compression along a. Spectroscopic RXS measurements show that the 3D charge order resides exclusively in the CuO_{2} planes and may thus be generic to the cuprates. We discuss implications of these results for models of electronic nematicity and for the interplay between charge order and superconductivity.

Emergent charge order from correlated electron-phonon physics in cuprates

Charge-density wave order is now understood to be a widespread feature of underdoped cuprate high-temperature superconductors, although its origins remain unclear. While experiments suggest that the charge-ordering wavevector is determined by Fermi-surface nesting, the relevant sections of the Fermi surface are featureless and provide no clue as to the underlying mechanism. Here, focusing on underdoped YBa2Cu3O6+x, we propose that charge-density waves form from the incipient softening of a bond-buckling phonon. The momentum dependence of its coupling to itinerant electrons favourably selects the wavevector found in experiments. But, it requires quasiparticle renormalization by strong electronic correlations to enable a unique enhancement of the charge susceptibility near the B1g-phonon selected wavevector. The B1g phonon frequency softens by a few percent, and finite-range charge-density wave correlations will form locally, if nucleated by defects or dopant disorder. These results suggest that underdoped cuprates cannot be understood in the context of strong electronic correlations alone.

Features of the Terahertz Photoconductivity in YBa2Cu3O7–δ near the Superconducting Transition Temperature

Positive terahertz photoconductivity has been observed in underdoped high-temperature superconductors YBa2Cu3O7–δ at temperatures somewhat higher than the midpoint of the superconducting transition. The amplitude of the effect is almost independent of the temperature and the power of the incident radiation if the latter exceeds a certain threshold value. The mechanisms responsible for the appearance of the effect are discussed.

Anomalous diamagnetism of heterostructures superconductor phase: Electron density waves of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) achieved by vacuum treatment below critical temperature

In the underdoped high-temperature superconductors, the superconducting phase has been observed to overlap the phase of the wave charge density (CDW). The previous studies have demonstrated that phase modulation has a checkerboard pattern when phase formation is conducted from high temperatures to low ones, and the formation of the electron density phase preceeds the superconducting phase. In the present paper, we changed the order of the phase formation which resulted in development of heterostructures with critical transition temperature of 200 K.

Broken rotational symmetry on the Fermi surface of a high-Tc superconductor

Broken fourfold rotational (C4) symmetry is observed in the experimental properties of several classes of unconventional superconductors. It has been proposed that this symmetry breaking is important for superconducting pairing in these materials, but in the high-Tc cuprates this broken symmetry has never been observed on the Fermi surface. Here we report a pronounced anisotropy in the angle dependence of the interlayer magnetoresistance of the underdoped high transition temperature (high-Tc) superconductor YBa2Cu3O6.58, directly revealing broken C4 symmetry on the Fermi surface. Moreover, we demonstrate that this Fermi surface has C2 symmetry of the type produced by a uniaxial or anisotropic density-wave phase. This establishes the central role of C4 symmetry breaking in the Fermi surface reconstruction of YBa2Cu3O6+δ, and suggests a striking degree of universality among unconventional superconductors.

Number of holes contained within the Fermi surface volume in underdoped high-temperature superconductors

We bring resolution to the longstanding problem relating Fermi surface reconstruction to the number of holes contained within the Fermi surface volume in underdoped high Tc superconductors. On considering uniaxial and biaxial charge-density wave order, we show that there exists a relationship between the ordering wave vector, the hole doping and the cross-sectional area of the reconstructed Fermi surface whose precise form depends on the volume of the starting Fermi surface. We consider a `large' starting Fermi surface comprising 1+p hole carriers, as predicted by band structure calculations, and a `small' starting Fermi surface comprising p hole carriers, as proposed in models in which the Coulomb repulsion remains the dominant energy. Using the reconstructed Fermi surface cross-sectional area obtained in quantum oscillation experiments in YBa2Cu3O6+x and HgBa2CuO4+x and the established methods for estimating the chemical hole doping, we find the ordering vectors obtained from x-ray scattering measurements to show a close correspondence with those expected for the small starting Fermi surface. We therefore show the Coulomb repulsion to remain largely unscreened throughout the entire underdoped regime where the pseudogap exists and further show that the quantum oscillation frequency and charge-density wave vectors provide accurate estimates for the number of holes contributing to the Fermi surface volume.

The microscopic structure of charge density waves in underdoped YBa2Cu3O6.54 revealed by X-ray diffraction.

Charge density wave (CDW) order appears throughout the underdoped high-temperature cuprate superconductors, but the underlying symmetry breaking and the origin of the CDW remain unclear. We use X-ray diffraction to determine the microscopic structure of the CDWs in an archetypical cuprate YBa2Cu3O6.54 at its superconducting transition temperature ∼60 K. We find that the CDWs in this material break the mirror symmetry of the CuO2 bilayers. The ionic displacements in the CDWs have two components, which are perpendicular and parallel to the CuO2 planes, and are out of phase with each other. The planar oxygen atoms have the largest displacements, perpendicular to the CuO2 planes. Our results allow many electronic properties of the underdoped cuprates to be understood. For instance, the CDWs will lead to local variations in the electronic structure, giving an explicit explanation of density-wave states with broken symmetry observed in scanning tunnelling microscopy and soft X-ray measurements.

Fragile charge order in the nonsuperconducting ground state of the underdoped high-temperature superconductors

The normal state in the hole underdoped copper oxide superconductors has proven to be a source of mystery for decades. The measurement of a small Fermi surface by quantum oscillations on suppression of superconductivity by high applied magnetic fields, together with complementary spectroscopic measurements in the hole underdoped copper oxide superconductors, point to a nodal electron pocket from charge order in YBa2Cu3(6+δ). Here, we report quantum oscillation measurements in the closely related stoichiometric material YBa2Cu4O8, which reveals similar Fermi surface properties to YBa2Cu3(6+δ), despite the nonobservation of charge order signatures in the same spectroscopic techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, that revealed signatures of charge order in YBa2Cu3(6+δ). Fermi surface reconstruction in YBa2Cu4O8 is suggested to occur from magnetic field enhancement of charge order that is rendered fragile in zero magnetic fields because of its potential unconventional nature and/or its occurrence as a subsidiary to more robust underlying electronic correlations.

Non-Ohmic Electrical Transport in the Vicinity of the Superconducting Transition: Implications for the Study of the Phase Diagram of the Underdoped Cuprate Superconductors

In this paper, we present a theoretical discus- sion of the non-ohmic regime of the electrical conductivity of a type-II planar superconductor near its superconduct- ing transition, focusing mainly in the region between the phase-coherence and the pair-condensation critical temper- atures, Tphase <T < T cond. For that purpose, we extend down to those temperatures existing calculations for the so- called Aslamazov-Larkin conductivity in presence of finite electric fields, and the resulting exponent α of the fluctu- ation voltage-current characteristics E∼j α . These results are then discussed by considering two possible scenarios for the phase diagram of the superconducting fluctuations in the underdoped high-temperature superconductors. Our results suggest that the strong phase fluctuations scenario (i.e., large Tcond − Tphase) leads to a plateau in the T - dependence of the exponent α near Tphase, and that the T -region over which this plateau extends becomes wider when the applied electric field is increased. These features are much smaller in the conventional fluctuations scenario (i.e., small Tcond − Tphase).

Lattice dynamical signature of charge density wave formation in underdopedYBa2Cu3O6+x

We report a detailed Raman scattering study of the lattice dynamics in detwinned single crystals of the underdoped high temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O6+x (x=0.75, 0.6, 0.55 and 0.45). Whereas at room temperature the phonon spectra of these compounds are similar to that of optimally doped YBa2Cu3O6.99, additional Raman-active modes appear upon cooling below ~170-200 K in underdoped crystals. The temperature dependence of these new features indicates that they are associated with the incommensurate charge density wave state recently discovered using synchrotron x-ray scattering techniques on the same single crystals. Raman scattering has thus the potential to explore the evolution of this state under extreme conditions.

Vortex pattern and differential conductance in hole underdoped high-temperature superconductors with competing d-wave and antiferromagnetic orders

Vortex charges in copper oxide high-temperature superconductors with hole underdoping are investigated by Bogoliubov–de Gennes equations based on a model Hamiltonian with competing antiferromagnetic order and d-wave superconducting order (DSC) with variation of temperature. For the DSC, spin density wave (SDW) and charge density wave (CDW), the transition from stripe to checkerboard pattern and to 2D structure may occur with variation of temperature. Moreover, both spatial profile of the electron density distribution and intensity of the differential conductance are strongly affected by the SDW order around the vortex cores. The transitions from one-dimensional to isotropic two-dimensional structures of the vortex charge and spin-density wave orders may occur by tuning the temperature.

Inelastic x-ray study of phonon broadening and charge-density wave formation in ortho-II-ordered YBa2Cu3O6.54

Inelastic x-ray scattering is used to investigate charge density wave (CDW) formation and the low-energy lattice dynamics of the underdoped high temperature superconductor ortho-II YBa2Cu3O6.54. We find that, for a temperature ~1/3 of the CDW onset temperature (~155 K), the CDW order is static within the resolution of the experiment, that is the inverse lifetime is less than 0.3 meV. In the same temperature region, low-energy phonons near the ordering wavevector of the CDW show large increases in their linewidths. This contrasts with the usual behavior in CDW systems where the phonon anomalies are strongest near the CDW onset temperature

Theory of terahertz conductivity in the pseudogap phase of the cuprates: A preformed pair perspective

In this paper we deduce transport properties in the presence of a pseudogap associated with precursor superconductivity. Our theoretical analysis is based on the widely adopted self-energy expression reflecting this normal state gap, which has appeared in interpretations of photoemission and in other experiments. Thus, it should be generally applicable. Here we address THz conductivity $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})={\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{1}(\ensuremath{\omega})+i{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{2}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ measurements in the underdoped high-temperature superconductors and arrive at reasonable agreement between theory and recent experiment for both ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{2}$ above and below ${T}_{c}$.

Fermi surface reconstruction from bilayer charge ordering in the underdoped high temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O6+x

We show that a Fermi surface in underdoped YBa2Cu3O6+x yielding the distribution of quantum oscillation frequencies observed over a broad range of magnetic field can be reconciled with the wavevectors of charge modulations found in nuclear magnetic resonance and x-ray scattering experiments within a model of biaxial charge ordering occurring in a bilayer CuO2 planar system. Bilayer coupling introduces the possibility of different period modulations and quantum oscillation frequencies corresponding to each of the bonding and antibonding bands, which can be reconciled with recent experimental observations.

The Stripe State in Cuprates

Since the discovery of high temperature superconductors (HTS) two decades ago, many anomalous properties have been reported. One of the most interesting properties is the possible existence of the stripe state consisting of one dimensional charge-density modulation coupled with some kind of spin ordering. X-ray and neutron scattering experiments and recently high resolution scanning tunneling microscopy have reported direct evidences of such a structure. In particular it has found in the La-Sr-Cu-O (LSCO) family the existence of the half-doped stripe with average of half a hole in one charge modulation period below and about 1/8 hole density. These results have fueled the idea about the presence of these charge or spin density wave states competing with the superconducting phase in underdoped HTS. They may even contribute to the pairing mechanism. In this talk, we will demonstrate that the presence of these stripes is actually a natural consequence of the strongly interacting t-J model by using a variational approach which provides a good enough accuracy to address the subtle result. Furthermore we show that half-doped stripes could be stabilized in hole-doped systems if we assume a simple electron-phonon interaction to renormalize the electron mass. However we have not found any evidence to support half-doped stripes in electron-doped systems.

Spatially varying interactions induced in ultra-cold atoms by optical Feshbach resonance

Optical Feshbach resonance can induce spatially varying interactions in ultra-cold atoms. Its applications to pancake-shaped clouds of bosons and fermions enable one to study several fresh phenomena. We examine possibilities of unexplored structures such as a bosonic superfluid enclave inside a Mott insulator and a normal-gas core enclosed by a fermionic superfluid shell. We discuss feasible experimental setups and signatures of those interesting structures. While a superfluid enclave in a Mott insulator may be useful for atomic devices in atomtronics, the superconducting islands observed in scanning–tunneling microscopy of heavily underdoped high-temperature superconductors may be simulated by ultra-cold fermions.

Near Doping-Independent Pocket Area from an Antinodal Fermi Surface Instability in Underdoped High Temperature Superconductors

Fermi surface models applied to the underdoped cuprates predict the small pocket area to be strongly dependent on doping whereas quantum oscillations in YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6+x) find precisely the opposite to be true--seemingly at odds with the Luttinger volume. We show that such behavior can be explained by an incommensurate antinodal Fermi surface nesting-type instability--further explaining the doping-dependent superstructures seen in cuprates using scanning tunneling microscopy. We develop a Fermi surface reconstruction scheme involving orthogonal density waves in two dimensions and show that their incommensurate behavior requires momentum-dependent coupling. A cooperative modulation of the charge and bond strength is therefore suggested.