Tendencies of enhanced electronic nematicity in the Hubbard model and a comparison with Raman scattering on high-temperature superconductors

TL;DR

This study combines quantum Monte Carlo simulations and Raman spectroscopy to investigate electron nematicity in high-temperature superconductors, revealing increased nematic fluctuations in underdoped cuprates that may originate from melted stripe phases.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of theoretical simulations and experimental data, highlighting the role of nematic fluctuations in the pseudogap regime of cuprates.

Findings

Nematic fluctuations increase with decreasing temperature in underdoped cuprates.

Raman response shows a prominent B1g symmetry increase around 10% doping.

Simulations support the presence of nematic fluctuations possibly from melted stripes.

Abstract

The pseudogap regime of the cuprate high-temperature superconductors is characterized by a variety of competing orders, the nature of which are still widely debated. Recent experiments have provided evidence for electron nematic order, in which the electron fluid breaks rotational symmetry while preserving translational invariance. Raman spectroscopy, with its ability to symmetry resolve low energy excitations, is a unique tool that can be used to assess nematic fluctuations and nematic ordering tendencies. Here, we compare results from determinant quantum Monte Carlo simulations of the Hubbard model to experimental results from Raman spectroscopy in $\text{La}_{2-x}\text{Sr}_{x}\text{CuO}_{4}$, which show a prominent increase in the $B_{1g}$ response around 10% hole doping as the temperature decreases, indicative of a rise in nematic fluctuations at low energy. Our results support a picture of nematic fluctuations with $B_{1g}$ symmetry occurring in underdoped cuprates, which may arise from melted stripes at elevated temperatures.