Nernst effect and diamagnetic response in a stripe model of superconducting cuprates

TL;DR

This paper investigates how stripe-induced electronic inhomogeneity in underdoped cuprates can explain enhanced superconducting fluctuations above the transition temperature, aligning with experimental diamagnetic and Nernst effect observations.

Contribution

It introduces a striped superconducting model that accounts for enhanced fluctuations and predicts anisotropic thermopower in detwinned samples, providing a new perspective on cuprate superconductivity.

Findings

Qualitative agreement with experimental diamagnetic and Nernst effect data

Prediction of anisotropic thermopower in detwinned samples

Support for stripe inhomogeneity as a key factor in superconducting fluctuations

Abstract

We examine the possibility that the experimentally observed enhancement of superconducting (SC) fluctuations above the SC transition temperature in the underdoped cuprates is caused by stripes -- an intrinsic electronic inhomogeneity, common to hole-doped cuprates. By evaluating the strengths of the diamagnetic response and the Nernst effect within the striped SC model, we find results that are qualitatively consistent with the experimental observations. We make a prediction for anisotropic thermopower in detwinned samples that can be used to further test the proposed scenario.