Novel magnetic order in pseudogap state of high Tc copper oxides superconductors

TL;DR

This study reveals a universal magnetic order in the pseudogap phase of high-Tc cuprates, providing direct evidence of a hidden order parameter linked to the pseudogap phenomenon.

Contribution

It reports the first direct detection of a magnetic order in the pseudogap phase across multiple cuprate families, supporting circulating current theories.

Findings

Magnetic order observed in three cuprate families.

Order preserves translational symmetry, consistent with orbital currents.

Magnetic order transition aligns with pseudogap temperature.

Abstract

One of the leading issues in high-$\rm T_c$ copper oxide superconductors is the origin of the pseudogap phase in the underdoped regime of their phase diagram. Using polarized neutron diffraction, a novel magnetic order has been identified as an hidden order parameter of the pseudogap as the transition temperature corresponds to what is expected for the pseudogap. The observed magnetic order preserves translational symmetry as predicted for orbital moments in the circulating current theory. Being now reported in three different cuprates familles, it appears as a universal phenomenon whatever the crystal structure (with single CuO$_2$ layer or bilayer per unit cell). To date, it is the first direct evidence of an hidden order parameter characterizing the pseudogap phase of high-$\rm T_c$ cuprates.