Stripe order and quasiparticle Nernst effect in cuprate superconductors

TL;DR

This paper explores how stripe order and related electronic phases in cuprate superconductors influence the quasiparticle Nernst effect, highlighting the role of band structure features like van-Hove singularities and Lifshitz transitions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the impact of translation symmetry breaking and Fermi surface topology on the Nernst effect in cuprates, with specific predictions for doping dependence.

Findings

Nernst signal is enhanced near van-Hove singularities and Lifshitz transitions.

Stripe and nematic states lead to large quasiparticle Nernst effects due to small Fermi pockets.

Anisotropic contributions from open orbits significantly affect the Nernst response.

Abstract

After a brief review of current ideas on stripe order in cuprate high-temperature superconductors, we discuss the quasiparticle Nernst effect in the cuprates, with focus on its evolution in non-superconducting stripe and related nematic states. In general, we find the Nernst signal to be strongly enhanced by nearby van-Hove singularities and Lifshitz transitions in the band structure, implying that phases with translation symmetry breaking often lead to a large quasiparticle Nernst effect due to the presence of multiple small Fermi pockets. Open orbits may contribute to the Nernst signal as well, but do so in a strongly anisotropic fashion. We discuss our results in the light of recent proposals for a specific Lifshitz transition in underdoped YBCO and make predictions for the doping dependence of the Nernst signal.