Evolution from intralayer to interlayer superconductivity in a bilayer $t$-$J$ model

TL;DR

This study explores how interlayer superconductivity emerges from intralayer pairing in a bilayer $t$-$J$ model, revealing phase transitions driven by interlayer spin interactions and doping, with implications for cuprate and nickelate superconductors.

Contribution

It provides a detailed quantum phase diagram showing the evolution from intralayer to interlayer superconductivity in a bilayer $t$-$J$ model using DMRG, including the role of charge density waves and different liquid states.

Findings

Large interlayer spin interaction induces interlayer superconductivity.

Interlayer superconductivity can develop from Luther-Emery and Luttinger liquids.

Intermediate coupling regimes show enhanced quasi-long-range order.

Abstract

Motivated by the bilayer cuprate superconductors and nickelate superconductor La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$, we investigate the evolution from intralayer to interlayer superconductivity based on a bilayer two-leg $t$-$J$-$J_{\bot}$ model, where $t$ is the in-plane electron hopping, $J$ is the in-plane spin interaction, and $J_{\bot}$ is the inter-plane spin interaction. By means of the density matrix renormalization group calculations, we obtain the quantum phase diagram of the system by tuning $J_{\bot}$ in a large doping range $\delta = 1/8 - 1/2$. We find that a large $J_{\bot}$ can always drive an interlayer superconductivity by coupling the two layers in both the Luther-Emery liquid and Luttinger liquid states. By coupling two Luther-Emery liquid states, the in-plane superconductivity evolves to inter-plane superconductivity either through an intermediate charge density wave (CDW) phase or directly, depending on doping ratio. This emergent CDW phase, which exists over a finite doping range, appears to develop from the CDW state of the two-leg ladder at $\delta = 1/4$. By coupling two Luttinger liquids, the in-plane Luttinger liquids show a transition to the inter-plane superconducting phase at large $J_{\bot}$, as reported in previous literature. Interestingly, in the intermediate $J_{\bot}$ regime we find that while the in-plane Luttinger-liquid features remain stable, the inter-plane superconductivity can develop an enhanced quasi-long-range order with the power exponent $K^{zz}_{\rm SC} \sim 1$. At last, we show that the interlayer superconductivity is also stable by coupling the bilayer three-leg $t$-$J$ ladders by a strong $J_{\bot}$ interaction, from both the Luther-Emery liquid and Luttinger-liquid states.