Simple Explanation of Fermi Arcs in Cuprate Pseudogaps: a Motional Narrowing Phenomenon

TL;DR

This paper explains the Fermi arcs observed in underdoped cuprates as a result of a time-fluctuating d-wave gap, providing a simple and natural explanation for their temperature dependence and asymmetry.

Contribution

It introduces a novel explanation for Fermi arcs based on motional narrowing caused by time-fluctuating gaps, simplifying previous complex theories.

Findings

Fermi arcs arise from motional narrowing of fluctuating gaps.

Temperature dependence of Fermi arcs is explained by gap fluctuations.

Hole-electron asymmetry is accounted for by the model.

Abstract

ARPES measurements on underdoped cuprates above the superconducting transition temperature exhibit the unique phenomenon of Fermi arcs, gapless arcs of Fermi surface around the nodal points of the superconducting gap, which terminate before reaching the antinodes. We show that this phenomenon is easily explained (including its temperature dependence and observed hole-electron asymmetry) as the natural consequence of a time-fluctuating d-wave gap.