Magnetic field induced charge order in cuprate superconductors: an explanation by spin-vortex-induced loop currents

TL;DR

This paper proposes that magnetic field-induced charge order in cuprates results from reorganization of spin-vortex-induced loop currents, explaining experimental observations and predicting specific charge order modifications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel explanation based on spin-vortex-induced loop current reorganization for magnetic field-induced charge order in cuprates.

Findings

Reorganization from 4a×6a to 4a×8a spin-vortex quartets.

Enhanced 8a charge order observed experimentally.

Predicted reduction of 6a charge order, awaiting experimental confirmation.

Abstract

We present a possible explanation for a recently observed magnetic field induced charge order in cuprate superconductors (Edkins et al.~arXiv:1802.04673 [cond-mat.supr-con]). We argue that it arises from the reorganization of spin-vortex-induced loop current (SVILC) pattern due to supercurrent-flow caused by the magnetic field. The reorganization is from the most stable tiling of $4a times 6a$ spin-vortex quartets ($a$ is the lattice constant in the CuO$_2$ plane, and a spin-vortex quartet is stable of unit of spin-vortices that contains four holes, four spin-vortices, and four SVILCs) to that of $4a times 8a$ spin-vortex quartets. The consequence of this reorganization will lead to the enhancement of $8a$ charge order, and reduction of $6a$ charge order. The former is observed in the experiment, but the latter is not confirmed, so far. However, it may be confirmed if the experimental result is carefully reexamined.