Robustness of the nodal d-wave spectrum to strongly fluctuating competing order

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that short-range fluctuations of competing order in underdoped cuprates preserve the nodal d-wave spectrum despite the presence of competing phases, reconciling spectroscopic data with theoretical models.

Contribution

It shows how fluctuating competing order restores the nodal d-wave spectrum, resolving a controversy between evidence for competing order and spectroscopic observations.

Findings

Short-range fluctuations restore the nodal d-wave spectrum.

Signatures include splitting of antinodal quasiparticles.

Possible small induced nodal gaps observed in experiments.

Abstract

We resolve an existing controversy between, on the one hand, convincing evidence for the existence of competing order in underdoped cuprates, and, on the other hand, spectroscopic data consistent with a seemingly homogeneous d-wave superconductor in the very same compounds. Specifically, we show how short-range fluctuations of the competing order essentially restore the nodal d-wave spectrum from the qualitatively distinct folded dispersion resulting from homogeneous coexisting phases. The signatures of the fluctuating competing order can be found mainly in a splitting of the antinodal quasi-particles and, depending of the strength of the competing order, also in small induced nodal gaps as found in recent experiments on underdoped La{2-x}SrxCuO4.