Momentum anisotropy of the scattering rate in cuprate superconductors

TL;DR

This study uses angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to analyze how the scattering rate varies with momentum and energy in cuprate superconductors, revealing anisotropic elastic scattering linked to the pseudogap phase.

Contribution

It uncovers the anisotropic nature of the elastic scattering term in the pseudogap phase, contrasting it with isotropic scattering in overdoped samples, providing new insights into scattering mechanisms.

Findings

Elastic scattering is highly anisotropic in the pseudogap phase.

Inelastic scattering coefficient is isotropic across phases.

Overdoped samples show isotropic scattering in the normal state.

Abstract

We examine the momentum and energy dependence of the scattering rate of the high temperature cuprate superconductors using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The scattering rate is of the form a + b*w. The inelastic coefficient b is found to be isotropic. The elastic term, a, however, is found to be highly anisotropic in the pseudogap phase of optimal doped samples, with an anisotropy which correlates with that of the pseudogap. This can be contrasted with heavily overdoped samples, which show an isotropic scattering rate in the normal state.