Disentangling Cooper-pair formation above the transition temperature from the pseudogap state in the cuprates

Journal Article · Sun Dec 05 04:00:00 UTC 2010 · Nature Physics

OSTI ID:1025195

Kondo, Takeshi; Hamaya, Yoichiro; Palczewski, Ari D; Takeuchi, Tsunehiro; Wen, J S; Xu, Z J; Gu, Genda; Schmalian, Joerg; Kaminski, Adam

The discovery of the pseudogap in the cuprates created significant excitement as it was believed to be a signature of pairing, in some cases above room temperature. Indeed, a number of experiments detected phase-fluctuating superconductivity above the transition temperature T{sub c}. However, several recent experiments reported that the pseudogap and superconducting state are characterized by different energy scales and probably compete with each other, leaving open the question of whether the pseudogap is caused by pair formation. Here we report the discovery of a spectroscopic signature of pair formation and demonstrate that in a region commonly referred to as the pseudogap, two distinct states coexist: one that is due to pair formation and persists to an intermediate temperature T{sub pair} < T* and a second - the 'proper' pseudogap - characterized by the loss of spectral weight and anomalies in transport properties that extends up to T*. T{sub pair} has a value around 120-150 K even for materials with very different T{sub c} values and it probably sets a limit on the highest attainable T{sub c} in the cuprates

• Research Organization: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-07CH11358
• OSTI ID: 1025195
• Report Number(s): IS-J 7597
• Journal Information: Nature Physics, Journal Name: Nature Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 7; ISSN 1745-2473
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CUPRATES
PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
TRANSPORT