Low-energy spin dynamics and critical hole concentrations in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ ($0.07\leq x \leq 0.2$) revealed by $^{139}$La and $^{63}$Cu nuclear magnetic resonance

TL;DR

This study uses nuclear magnetic resonance to explore how spin dynamics and charge ordering evolve with doping in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$, revealing a critical hole concentration where superconductivity becomes bulk.

Contribution

It provides detailed NMR analysis linking charge ordering, spin fluctuations, and the critical doping level for superconductivity in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$.

Findings

Charge ordering induces glassy spin states at certain doping levels.

The Curie-Weiss temperature $ heta$ sharply changes at $x_c \,\sim 0.09$.

Superconductivity becomes bulk above the critical hole concentration.

Abstract

We report a comprehensive $^{139}$La and $^{63}$Cu nuclear magnetic resonance study on La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ ($0.07\leq x \leq 0.2$) single crystals. The $^{139}$La spin-lattice relaxation rate $^{139}T_1^{-1}$ is drastically influenced by Sr doping $x$ at low temperatures. A detailed field dependence of $^{139}T_1^{-1}$ at $x=1/8$ suggests that charge ordering induces the critical slowing down of spin fluctuations toward glassy spin order and competes with superconductivity. On the other hand, the $^{63}$Cu relaxation rate $^{63}T_1^{-1}$ is well described by a Curie-Weiss law at high temperatures, yielding the Curie-Weiss temperature $\Theta$ as a function of doping. $\Theta$ changes sharply through a critical hole concentration $x_c\sim 0.09$. $x_c$ appears to correspond to the delocalization limit of doped holes, above which the bulk nature of superconductivity is established.