Network Topology and Subgap Resonances Observed by Fourier Transform Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy in Cuprate High-Temperature Superconductors

TL;DR

This paper uses Fourier transform scanning tunneling microscopy to analyze subgap resonances in cuprate superconductors, revealing how filamentary nanodomains influence quasiparticle states and surface gap anisotropy.

Contribution

It introduces a topological nanodomain model that explains the origin of k-space octets and r-space checkerboard patterns in high-temperature superconductors.

Findings

Octet of quasiparticle states consistent with ARPES observations

Filamentary nanodomain model explains checkerboard and octets

Strong electron-phonon interactions outside CuO2 planes influence gap anisotropy

Abstract

Fourier transform scanning tunneling microscopy on BSCCO subgap resonances has deciphered an octet of "quasi-particle" states that are consistent with the Fermi surface and energy gap observed by ARPES, but the origin of the high-intensity k-space octets and the sharply defined r-space checkerboard is unexplained. The filamentary ferroelastic nanodomain model that predicted the r-space checkerboard also explains the k-space octets and the origin of the apparent anisotropic surface d-wave gap by using strong electron-phonon interactions outside the CuO2 planes. The topological model identifies the factors that stabilize high-intensity k-space octets in the presence of a very high level of irregular r-space checkerboard noise.