Two gaps with one energy scale in cuprate superconductors

TL;DR

This paper explores how a single energy scale influences both the pseudogap and superconducting gap in cuprates, revealing their coexistence and dependence on strong electron correlations within a kinetic energy driven framework.

Contribution

It introduces a model where one energy scale governs both gaps, emphasizing the role of kinetic energy and spin interactions in cuprate superconductivity.

Findings

Normal-state pseudogap and superconducting gap coexist across the superconducting dome.

Both gaps are dominated by a single energy scale.

Strong electron correlations are essential for the gaps' origin.

Abstract

The interplay between the superconducting gap and normal-state pseudogap in cuprate superconductors is studied based on the kinetic energy driven superconducting mechanism. It is shown that the interaction between charge carriers and spins directly from the kinetic energy by exchanging spin excitations in the higher power of the doping concentration induces the normal-state pseudogap state in the particle-hole channel and superconducting state in the particle-particle channel, therefore there is a coexistence of the superconducting gap and normal-state pseudogap in the whole superconducting dome. This normal-state pseudogap is closely related to the quasiparticle coherent weight, and is a necessary ingredient for superconductivity in cuprate superconductors. In particular, both the normal-state pseudogap and superconducting gap are dominated by one energy scale, and they are the result of the strong electron correlation.