Anatomy of Gossamer Superconductivity

TL;DR

This paper investigates the interplay of d-wave superconductivity and d-wave density wave order parameters in high-T_c superconductors, revealing how their competition influences physical properties and quasiparticle states.

Contribution

It provides a mean field theoretical analysis of unconventional superconductivity coexisting with anisotropic charge density waves, connecting to earlier phenomenological models.

Findings

Describes features consistent with pseudogap phase behavior.

Calculates quasiparticle density of states accessible by STM.

Highlights the impact of competing order parameters on physical properties.

Abstract

There are many systems in which two order parameters compete with each other. Of particular interest are systems in which these order parameters are both unconventional. In this contribution, we examine the representative example of a d-wave superconductor in the presence of a d-wave density wave, which has been suggested as a model for the pseudogap phase in the high- T_c superconductors. The physical properties of unconventional superconductivity in the presence of an anisotropic charge density wave are investigated within mean field theory. This model describes many features that were anticipated by an earlier phenomenological treatment of Tallon and Loram. In addition, the quasiparticle density of states in the presence of these two order parameters is calculated, which should be accessible by scanning tunneling microscopy.