Diffuse Scattering Studies of Local Correlations in ErBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>6+x</sub>
ORAL
Abstract
The origin of unconventional superconductivity in cuprate superconductors remains a great challenge. Early observations of stripe correlations in La2-x-yNdxSryCuO4 confirmed the existence of spin and charge density wave orders near a “magical” p = 1/8 hole-doping where superconductivity disappears. At about the same time, ARPES measurements observed a pseudogap at temperatures much higher than TC. The observation of CDW and pseudogap states appearing together and vanishing near optimal doping led to the speculation that these parameters are correlated and have a common origin. However, with the detection of weak charge density waves in YBCO near optimal doping (away from p = 1/8), these claims need to be re-evaluated. In that regard, rare-earth crystal field spectroscopy, used as a probe of the local structural and electronic environment in ErBa2Cu3O6+x, provided evidence for charge-transfer between the copper chains and planes and the formation of clusters with three distinct states. In this talk, I will discuss recent single crystal diffuse scattering work to elucidate the nature of local short-range order and its correlation with CDW and the pseudogap states.
*Work at Argonne (data collection and analysis) was supported by the U.S. DOE, Office of Science, BES, DMSE
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Presenters
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Bisham Poudel
- Physics, Northern Illinois University