Observation of two types of charge density wave orders in superconducting La${}_{2-x}$Sr${}_x$CuO${}_4$

Abstract

The discovery of charge- and spin-density-wave (CDW/SDW) orders in superconducting cuprates has altered our perspective on the nature of high-temperature superconductivity (SC). However, it has proven difficult to fully elucidate the relationship between the density wave orders and SC. Here using resonant soft X-ray scattering we study the archetypal cuprate, La${}_{2-x}$Sr${}_x$CuO${}_4$ (LSCO) over a broad doping range. We reveal the existence of two types of CDW orders in LSCO, namely CDW stripe order and CDW short-range order (SRO). While the CDW-SRO is suppressed by SC, it is partially transformed into the CDW stripe order with developing SDW stripe order near the superconducting $T_{\mathrm{c}}$. These findings indicate that the stripe orders and SC are inhomogeneously distributed in the superconducting CuO${}_2$ planes of LSCO. This further suggests a new perspective on the putative pair-density-wave order that coexists with SC, SDW, and CDW orders.

28 pages, 11 figures