SUPERSTRIPES Self organization of quantum wires in high Tc superconductors

TL;DR

This paper presents experimental evidence for a phase diagram in doped cuprate superconductors showing a quantum critical point where self-organized superlattices of quantum wires, called superstripes, enhance superconductivity.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of strain-driven superstripes in cuprates and links them to the maximum critical temperature near a quantum critical point.

Findings

Quantum critical point identified at specific strain and doping levels.

Superstripes facilitate the self-organization of quantum wires.

Critical fluctuations around the QCP enhance Tc.

Abstract

We report experimental evidence for the phase diagram of doped cuprate superconductors as a function of the micro-strain (e) of the Cu-O bond length, measured by Cu K-edge EXAFS, and hole doping (d). This phase diagram shows a QCP at P(e*,d*) where for the micro-strain e larger than the critical value e* charge-orbital-spin stripes and free carriers co-exist. The superconducting phase occurs in the region of critical fluctuations around this QCP. The critical temperature is function of two variables and Tc shows its maximum at the strain driven QCP. The critical fluctuations near this strain QCP give the self-organization of a metallic superlattice of quantum wires "superstripes" that favors the amplification of the critical temperature.