Quantum oscillations from Fermi arcs

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new mechanism for quantum oscillations in metals that have only segments of their Fermi surface, such as Fermi arcs in cuprate superconductors, explaining recent experimental observations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theory showing quantum oscillations can arise from Fermi surface segments terminated by a pairing gap, aligning with experimental data on cuprates.

Findings

Quantum oscillations can originate from Fermi arcs with pairing gaps.

The mechanism explains recent oscillation observations in YBCO.

Fermi surface segments are sufficient for quantum oscillations.

Abstract

When a metal is subjected to strong magnetic field B nearly all measurable quantities exhibit oscillations periodic in 1/B. Such quantum oscillations represent a canonical probe of the defining aspect of a metal, its Fermi surface (FS). In this study we establish a new mechanism for quantum oscillations which requires only finite segments of a FS to exist. Oscillations periodic in 1/B occur if the FS segments are terminated by a pairing gap. Our results reconcile the recent breakthrough experiments showing quantum oscillations in a cuprate superconductor YBCO, with a well-established result of many angle resolved photoemission (ARPES) studies which consistently indicate "Fermi arcs" -- truncated segments of a Fermi surface -- in the normal state of the cuprates.