Observation of cyclotron resonance and measurement of the hole mass in optimally-doped La${}_{2-x}$Sr${}_x$CuO${}_4$

Abstract

Using time-domain terahertz spectroscopy in pulsed magnetic fields up to 31 T, we measure the terahertz optical conductivity in an optimally-doped thin film of the high temperature superconducting cuprate La${}_{1.84}$Sr${}_{0.16}$CuO${}_4$. We observe systematic changes in the circularly-polarized complex optical conductivity that are consistent with cyclotron absorption of p-type charge carriers characterized by a cyclotron mass of $4.9\pm 0.8$ $m_{\mathrm{e}}$, and a scattering rate that increases with magnetic field. These results open the door to studies aimed at characterizing the degree to which electron-electron interactions influence carrier masses in cuprate superconductors.

6 pages, 4 figures