Spin-orbit scattering and pair breaking in a structurally disordered copper oxide layer

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.47.9144· OSTI ID:6652798

Bonesteel, N E ^[1]

---

1. Theoretische Physik, Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule-Hoenggerberg, CH-8093 Zuerich (Switzerland)

To leading order in displacement size, the scattering of electrons in a Cu-O plane from O displacements perpendicular to that plane is due to spin-orbit coupling. This scattering is investigated with the following results: (1) As a consequence of time-reversal symmetry, spin fluctuations, which can strongly enhance scattering from a spin impurity, do not enhance spin-orbit scattering; and (2) for a superconductor with a [ital d][sub [ital x]][sup 2][minus][ital y][sup 2] gap function, pair breaking from spin-orbit scattering can be strong, particularly in a structurally disordered phase where locally CuO[sub 6] octahedra tilt as in the orthorhombic phase of La[sub 2]CuO[sub 4], but globally the average structure is tetragonal. These results are discussed in the context of the (La,Nd)-(Sr,Ba)-Cu-O system where certain structural transitions are observed to suppress superconductivity.

• OSTI ID: 6652798
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Vol. 47:14; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
L-S COUPLING
COPPER OXIDES
D STATES
ELASTIC SCATTERING
FLUCTUATIONS
IMPURITIES
PAIRING INTERACTIONS
SPIN
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COUPLING
ENERGY LEVELS
INTERACTIONS
INTERMEDIATE COUPLING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VARIATIONS
665411* - Basic Superconductivity Studies- (1992-)