Scattering Interference Signature of a Pair Density Wave State in the Cuprate Pseudogap Phase

TL;DR

This study provides experimental evidence of a pair density wave (PDW) state in the pseudogap phase of a cuprate superconductor, revealing its real-space modulations and temperature-dependent scattering signatures, supporting theories of PDW coexistence with superconductivity.

Contribution

First direct detection of an 8a_0-periodic PDW in a cuprate superconductor and analysis of its evolution across the superconducting and pseudogap phases.

Findings

Detection of 8a_0-periodic Δ_P(r) modulations indicating a PDW.

Observation of temperature-dependent quasiparticle scattering interference signatures.

Evidence supporting the transition from a coexisting PDW and d-wave superconductivity to a pure PDW state.

Abstract

An unidentified quantum fluid designated as the pseudogap (PG) phase is produced by electron-density depletion in the CuO$_2$ antiferromagnetic insulator. Current theories suggest that the PG phase may be a pair density wave (PDW) state characterized by a spatially modulating density of electron pairs. Such a state should exhibit a periodically modulating energy gap $\Delta_P(\pmb r)$ in real-space, and a characteristic quasiparticle scattering interference (QPI) signature $\Lambda_P(\pmb q)$ in wavevector space. By studying strongly underdoped Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaDyCu$_2$O$_8$ at hole-density ~0.08 in the superconductive phase, we detect the $8a_0$-periodic $\Delta_P(\pmb r)$ modulations signifying a PDW coexisting with superconductivity. Then, by visualizing the temperature dependence of this electronic structure from the superconducting into the pseudogap phase, we find evolution of the scattering interference signature $\Lambda(\pmb q)$ that is predicted specifically for the temperature dependence of an $8a_0$-periodic PDW. These observations are consistent with theory for the transition from a PDW state coexisting with d-wave superconductivity to a pure PDW state in the Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaDyCu$_2$O$_8$ pseudogap phase.