Signature of quantum criticality in cuprates by charge density fluctuations

Abstract

The universality of the strange metal phase in many quantum materials is often attributed to the presence of a quantum critical point (QCP), a zero-temperature phase transition ruled by quantum fluctuations. In cuprates, where superconductivity hinders direct QCP observation, indirect evidence comes from the identification of fluctuations compatible with the strange metal phase. Here we show that the recently discovered charge density fluctuations (CDF) possess the right properties to be associated to a quantum phase transition. Using resonant x-ray scattering, we studied the CDF in two families of cuprate superconductors across a wide doping range (up to $p$=0.22). At $p^{\ast }\approx$0.19, the putative QCP, the CDF intensity peaks, and the characteristic energy $\Delta$ is minimum, marking a wedge-shaped region in the phase diagram indicative of a quantum critical behavior, albeit with anomalies. These findings strengthen the role of charge order in explaining strange metal phenomenology and provide insights into high-temperature superconductivity.

36 pages, 4 figures, 9 supplementary figures

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Cited by in corpus (21)

• Signature of quantum criticality in cuprates by charge density fluctuations
• Exploring Quantum Materials with Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering
• Possible enhancement of the superconducting $T_c$ due to sharp Kohn-like soft phonon anomalies
• Low-energy quasi-circular electron correlations with charge order wavelength in ${\text{Bi}}_2{\text{Sr}}_2\text{Ca}{\text{Cu}}_2{\text{O}}_{8+\delta }$
• Theory of charge dynamics in bilayer electron system with long-range Coulomb interaction
• Decoupling of Static and Dynamic Charge Correlations revealed by Uniaxial Strain in a Cuprate Superconductor
• Robust Charge-Density Wave Correlations in Optimally-Doped YBa2Cu3Oy
• Spin and bond-charge excitation spectra in correlated electron systems near antiferromagnetic phase
• A Theoretical Study of Doping Evolution of Phonons in High-Temperature Cuprate Superconductors
• Geometric orthogonal metals: Hidden antiferromagnetism and pseudogap from fluctuating stripes
• Spin-stripe order tied to the pseudogap phase in La1.8-xEu0.2SrxCuO4
• Constrains on s and d components of electron boson coupling constants in one band d wave Eliashberg theory for high Tc superconductors
• Correlation between optical phonon softening and superconducting $T_c$ in YBa${}_2$Cu${}_3$O${}_x$ within $d$-wave Eliashberg theory
• Detection of a two-phonon mode in a cuprate superconductor via polarimetric RIXS
• Retaining Landau quasiparticles in the presence of realistic charge fluctuations in cuprates
• Dynamic charge order from strong correlations in the cuprates
• Strong-coupling theory of bilayer plasmon excitations
• The influence of phonon symmetry and electronic structure on the electron-phonon coupling momentum dependence in cuprates
• The doping evolution of the charge density wave and charge density fluctuations in La${}_{2-x}$Sr${}_x$CuO${}_4$
• Strain-induced structural change and nearly-commensurate diffuse scattering in the model high-temperature superconductor HgBa${}_2$CuO${}_{4+\delta }$
• Engineering underdoped CuO${}_2$ nanoribbons in nm-thick $a$-axis YBa${}_2$Cu${}_3$O${}_{7-\delta }$ films