Dielectric versus magnetic pairing mechanisms in high-temperature cuprate superconductors investigated using Raman scattering

TL;DR

This study systematically alters ion size in cuprate superconductors to investigate the roles of dielectric and magnetic interactions, finding dielectric properties correlate with transition temperatures and supporting a dielectric-based pairing mechanism.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic approach using ion size variation to distinguish dielectric and magnetic effects in cuprates, highlighting dielectric screening's role in superconductivity.

Findings

Transition temperatures correlate with dielectric properties.

Dielectric effects persist under external pressure.

Supports dielectric-based pairing mechanism in cuprates.

Abstract

We suggest, and demonstrate, a systematic approach to the study of cuprate superconductors, namely, progressive change of ion size in order to systematically alter the interaction strength and other key parameters. R(Ba,Sr)$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ (R={La, ... Lu,Y}) is such a system where potentially obscuring structural changes are minimal. We thereby systematically alter both dielectric and magnetic properties. Dielectric fluctuation is characterized by ionic polarizability while magnetic fluctuation is characterized by exchange interactions measurable by Raman scattering. The range of transition temperatures is 70 to 107 K and we find that these correlate only with the dielectric properties, a behavior which persists with external pressure. The ultimate significance may remain to be proven but it highlights the role of dielectric screening in the cuprates and adds support to a previously proposed novel pairing mechanism involving exchange of quantized waves of electronic polarization.