Two-Orbital Model Explains the Higher Transition Temperature of the Single-Layer Hg-Cuprate Superconductor Compared to That of the La-Cuprate Superconductor

TL;DR

This study uses a two-orbital model to explain why single-layer Hg-cuprates have higher transition temperatures than La-cuprates, revealing the role of the $d_{z^2}$ orbital in suppressing superconductivity.

Contribution

It introduces a two-orbital model including the $d_{z^2}$ orbital to explain the material dependence of $T_c$ in cuprates, resolving previous theoretical-experimental discrepancies.

Findings

The $d_{z^2}$ orbital contribution is stronger in La-cuprates.

The $d_{z^2}$ orbital suppresses d-wave superconductivity.

The model explains the difference in $T_c$ between Hg- and La-cuprates.

Abstract

In order to explore the reason why the single-layered cuprates, La$_{2-x}$(Sr/Ba)$_x$CuO$_4$ ($T_c\simeq$ 40K) and HgBa$_2$CuO$_{4+\delta}$ ($T_c\simeq$ 90K), have such a significant difference in $T_c$, we study a two-orbital model that incorporates the $d_{z^2}$ orbital on top of the $d_{x^2-y^2}$ orbital. It is found, with the fluctuation exchange approximation, that the $d_{z^2}$ orbital contribution to the Fermi surface, which is stronger in the La system, works against d-wave superconductivity, thereby dominating over the effect of the Fermi surface shape. The result resolves the long-standing contradiction between the theoretical results on Hubbard-type models and the experimental material dependence of $T_c$ in the cuprates.