Pseudogap phase in cuprates: oxygen orbital moments instead of circulating currents

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new model for the pseudogap phase in cuprates, emphasizing oxygen orbital moments over circulating currents, and explains recent neutron scattering results with this approach.

Contribution

It introduces a complex multiplet model for the ground state of hole centers in cuprates, challenging the circulating current hypothesis and explaining experimental observations.

Findings

Reveals oxygen orbital magnetic moments as key in pseudogap phase

Explains neutron scattering results with non-ZR multiplet model

Identifies novel orbital and spin-orbital order parameters

Abstract

Circulating current (CC) loops within the cuprate unit cell are proposed to play a key role in the physics of the pseudogap phase. However, main experimental observations motivated by this sophisticated proposal and seemingly supporting the CC model can be explained in frames of a simple and physically clear microscopic model. We argue that instead of a well-isolated Zhang-Rice (ZR) singlet $^1A_{1g}$ the ground state of the hole center [CuO$_4$]$^{5-}$ (cluster analog of Cu$^{3+}$ ion) in cuprates should be described by a complex $^1A_{1g}$-$^{1,3}B_{2g}$-$^{1,3}E_u$ multiplet, formed by a competition of conventional hybrid Cu 3d-O 2p $b_{1g}(\sigma)\propto d_{x^2 -y^2}$ state and {\it purely oxygen nonbonding} O 2p$\pi$ states with $a_{2g}(\pi)$ and $e_{ux,y}(\pi)$ symmetry. In contrast with inactive ZR singlet we arrive at several novel competing orbital and spin-orbital order parameters, e.g., Ising-like net orbital magnetic moment, orbital toroidal moment, intra-plaquette's staggered order of Ising-like oxygen orbital magnetic moments. As a most impressive validation of the non-ZR model we explain fascinating results of recent neutron scattering measurements that revealed novel type of magnetic ordering in pseudogap phase of several hole-doped cuprates.