Identification of a Nematic Pair Density Wave State in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x

TL;DR

This study visualizes a nematic pair density wave state in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x, revealing its spatial structure, relation to impurities, and coexistence with superconductivity, advancing understanding of cuprate superconductors.

Contribution

The paper provides direct imaging evidence of a robust nematic PDW state in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x and shows its pinning by Zn impurities, a novel insight into cuprate superconductivity.

Findings

Discovery of a nematic PDW state in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x.

Identification of Ising domains with opposite nematicity.

Demonstration that Zn impurities pin the nematic PDW.

Abstract

Electron-pair density wave (PDW) states are now an intense focus of research in the field of cuprate correlated superconductivity. PDWs exhibit periodically modulating superconductive electron pairing which can be visualized directly using scanned Josephson tunneling microscopy (SJTM). Although from theory, intertwining the d-wave superconducting (DSC) and PDW order parameters allows a plethora of global electron-pair orders to appear, which one actually occurs in the various cuprates is unknown. Here we use SJTM to visualize the interplay of PDW and DSC states in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x at a carrier density where the charge density wave (CDW) modulations are virtually nonexistent. Simultaneous visualization of their amplitudes reveals that the intertwined PDW and DSC are mutually attractive states. Then, by separately imaging the electron-pair density modulations of the two orthogonal PDWs, we discover a robust nematic PDW state. Its spatial arrangement entails Ising domains of opposite nematicity, each consisting primarily of unidirectional and lattice commensurate electron-pair density modulations. Further, we demonstrate by direct imaging that the scattering resonances identifying Zn impurity atom sites occur predominantly within boundaries between these domains. This implies that the nematic PDW state is pinned by Zn atoms, as was recently proposed (Lozano et al, PHYSICAL REVIEW B 103, L020502 (2021)). Taken in combination, these data indicate that the PDW in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x is a vestigial nematic pair density wave state (J. Wardh and M. Granath arXiv:2203.08250v1).