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Universal short-range orthorhombic correlations in two cuprate superconductors

ORAL

Abstract

The high-temperature copper-oxide (cuprate) superconductors have been extensively studied for over thirty years, yet important questions regarding their phase diagram and unconventional superconductivity remain. In particular, the role of inherent structural inhomogeneity is not well understood. We carried out diffuse X-ray and neutron scattering experiments on two cuprates – La2-xSrxCuO4 and Tl2Ba2CuO6+δ – and observed short-range orthorhombic correlations in wide doping and temperature ranges, including compositions that maintain tetragonal average structure at low temperature. The strength of this structural precursor response exhibits exponential temperature scaling. Similar exponential behavior was seen in the superconducting precursor of cuprates [1,2] and other oxides [3]. This points to the relevance of structural inhomogeneity for the emergence of superconductivity and is consistent with a recent phenomenological model for the cuprates [4].

[1] D. Pelc et al., Nat. Commun. 9, 4327 (2018)
[2] G. Yu et al., Phys. Rev. B. 99, 214502 (2019)
[3] D. Pelc et al., Nat. Commun. 10, 2729 (2019)
[4] D. Pelc et al., Sci. Adv. 5, eaau4538 (2019)

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Presenters

  • Richard Spieker

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota

Authors

  • Damjan Pelc

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota, University of Zagreb, Department of Physics, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science

  • Richard Spieker

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota

  • Zachary Anderson

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota

  • Matthew Krogstad

    Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Materials Science Division, Argonne National Lab, Material Science, Argonne National Laboratory, Material Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory

  • Nikolaos Biniskos

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Forschungszentrum Juelich

  • Nina G Bielinski

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota

  • Biqiong Yu

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota

  • Takao Sasagawa

    Materials and Structure Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Laboratory for Materials and Structures, Tokyo Institute of Technology

  • Ludivine Chaviere

    Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia

  • Pinder Dosanjh

    Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia

  • Ruixing Liang

    Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia

  • Douglas A. Bonn

    Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

  • Andrea Damascelli

    Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia

  • Yaohua Liu

    Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Lab, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Raymond Osborn

    Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Materials Science Division, Argonne National Lab, Materials Science, Argonne National Laboratory, Material Science, Argonne National Laboratory, Material Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory

  • Martin Greven

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Minnesota