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Spin gap and magnetic coherence in a clean high-temperature superconductor

Author

Listed:
  • B. Lake

    (University of Toronto
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Ris National Laboratory)

  • G. Aeppli

    (Ris National Laboratory
    NEC Research)

  • T. E. Mason

    (University of Toronto
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • A. Schröder

    (University of Karlsruhe)

  • D. F. McMorrow

    (Ris National Laboratory)

  • K. Lefmann

    (Ris National Laboratory)

  • M. Isshiki

    (Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo)

  • M. Nohara

    (Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo)

  • H. Takagi

    (Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo)

  • S. M. Hayden

    (H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol)

Abstract

A notable aspect of high-temperature superconductivity in the copper oxides is the unconventional nature of the underlying paired-electron state. A direct manifestation of the unconventional state is a pairing energy—that is, the energy required to remove one electron from the superconductor—that varies (between zero and a maximum value) as a function of momentum, or wavevector1,2: the pairing energy for conventional superconductors is wavevector-independent3,4. The wavefunction describing the superconducting state will include the pairing not only of charges, but also of the spins of the paired charges. Each pair is usually in the form of a spin singlet5, so there will also be a pairing energy associated with transforming the spin singlet into the higher-energy spin triplet form without necessarily unbinding the charges. Here we use inelastic neutron scattering to determine thewavevector-dependence of spin pairing in La2−xSrxCuO4, the simplest high-temperature superconductor. We find that the spin pairing energy (or ‘spin gap’) is wavevector independent, even though superconductivity significantly alters the wavevector dependence of the spin fluctuations at higher energies.

Suggested Citation

  • B. Lake & G. Aeppli & T. E. Mason & A. Schröder & D. F. McMorrow & K. Lefmann & M. Isshiki & M. Nohara & H. Takagi & S. M. Hayden, 1999. "Spin gap and magnetic coherence in a clean high-temperature superconductor," Nature, Nature, vol. 400(6739), pages 43-46, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:400:y:1999:i:6739:d:10.1038_21840
    DOI: 10.1038/21840
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