Tuning competition between charge order and superconductivity in the square-lattice $t$-$t'$-$J$ model

TL;DR

This study investigates how electron-phonon couplings influence the competition between charge order and superconductivity in a square-lattice $t$-$t'$-$J$ model, revealing the dominant role of next-nearest-neighbor hopping in promoting superconductivity.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed phase diagram showing the effects of effective interactions from electron-phonon couplings on charge density waves and superconductivity in the $t$-$t'$-$J$ model.

Findings

Increased $V$ or $J_P$ enhances superconductivity in certain phases.

No superconductivity appears when stripe order disappears with increased $V$ or $J_P$.

Next-nearest-neighbor hopping $t'$ plays a crucial role in stabilizing superconductivity.

Abstract

Recently, a flurry of works have found strong competition between charge density wave (CDW) and superconductivity (SC) in the doped Hubbard and $t$-$J$ models on the square lattice. Interestingly, some recent results suggest that the electron-phonon coupling may suppress CDW order and enhance SC. In this work, we consider the square-lattice Hubbard model with the Holstein or Su-Schrieffer-Heeger electron-phonon coupling at the large-$U$ and antiadiabatic (infinite phonon frequency) limit, which gives an effective $t$-$J$ model with either a density attractive interaction $V$ or a $J_P$ term that contributes a larger spin exchange and a density repulsive interaction. To explore how these effective couplings may suppress CDW and give a SC, we implement the density matrix renormalization group simulation on the $t$-$t'$-$J$ model with $V$ or $J_P$ coupling. We focus on the {\it six-leg} cylinder system with the next-nearest-neighbor hopping $t'$, which hosts partially filled stripe and $d$-wave SC in phase diagram. By tuning $t'/t > 0$ and $V$ or $J_P$, we establish two quantum phase diagrams. In the SC phases, the increased $V$ or $J_P$ coupling can enhance the quasi-long-range SC order, consistent with some previous findings. Nonetheless, no SC emerges when the partially filled stripe phase disappears with increased $V$ or $J_P$. Instead, the system has a transition to either a phase-separation-like regime or a filled stripe phase. On the other hand, with increased $t'/t$, not only the partially filled stripe but the phase separation and filled stripe can also be tuned to SC phase. Our results suggest that although $V$ and $J_P$ couplings may strengthen hole binding, the hole dynamics controlled by $t'/t$ appears to play more crucial role for obtaining a SC in $t$-$J$ model.