Why are Orbital Currents Central to High Tc Theory?

TL;DR

This paper argues that the staggered flux state is fundamental in understanding the pseudogap phase of underdoped cuprates within the SU(2) t-J model, linking orbital currents, hole, and spin chirality correlations.

Contribution

It introduces a qualitative explanation for the role of the staggered flux state and presents novel correlations involving hole and spin chirality, supporting the centrality of orbital currents.

Findings

Staggered flux state correlates with pseudogap phenomena.

Hole and spin chirality correlations are closely related.

Constructs of vortices may explain anomalous normal state properties.

Abstract

We explain qualitatively why the staggered flux state plays a central role in the SU(2) formulation of the t-J model, which we use to model the pseudogap state in underdoped cuprates. This point of view is supported by studies of projected wavefunctions. In addition to staggered orbital current correlations, we present here for the first time results of correlations involving hole and spin chirality and show that the two are closely related. The staggered flux state allows us to construct cheap and fast vortices, which may hold the key to explaining the many anomalous properties of the normal state.