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Title: Effect of the pseudogap on the transition temperature in the cuprates and implications for its origin

Journal Article · · Nature Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/NPHYS2926· OSTI ID:1356590
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Materials Science Division
  2. Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States). Department of Physics
  3. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Materials Science Division; Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States). Department of Physics

We present cuprates that possess a large pseudogap that spans much of their phase diagram. The origin of this pseudogap is as debated as the mechanism for high-temperature superconductivity. In one class of theories, the pseudogap arises from some instability not related to pairing, typically charge, spin or orbital current ordering. Evidence of this has come from a variety of measurements indicating symmetry breaking. On the other side are theories where the pseudogap is associated with pairing. This ranges from preformed pairs to resonating valence bond theories where spin singlets become charge coherent. Here, we study pairing in the cuprates by constructing the pair vertex using spectral functions derived from angle-resolved photoemission data. Assuming that the pseudogap is not due to pairing, we find that the superconducting instability is strongly suppressed, in stark contrast to what is actually observed. We trace this suppression to the destruction of the BCS logarithmic singularity from a combination of the pseudogap and lifetime broadening. In conclusion, our findings strongly support those theories of the cuprates where the pseudogap is instead due to pairing.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357; AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
1356590
Journal Information:
Nature Physics, Vol. 10, Issue 5; ISSN 1745-2473
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group (NPG)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 42 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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