Coexistence of double-Q spin density wave and multi-Q pair density wave in cuprate oxide superconductors

TL;DR

This paper explores how double-Q spin density waves and multi-Q pair density waves coexist in cuprate superconductors, leading to complex modulations and pseudogap-like features in their electronic structure.

Contribution

It demonstrates the coexistence of double-Q SDW and multi-Q pair density wave in cuprates, explaining observed checkerboard modulations and pseudogap phenomena.

Findings

Checkerboard modulations can result from double-Q SDW.

Multi-Q pair density waves induce fine structures in gaps.

Gaps resemble zero-temperature pseudogaps.

Abstract

Spatial 4a x 4a modulations, with a the lattice constant of CuO_2 planes, or the so called checkerboards can arise from double-Q spin density wave (SDW) with Q_1 = (pm pi/a, pm 3 pi/4a) and Q_2 = (pm 3 pi/4a, pm pi/a). When multi-Q pair density wave, that is, the condensation of d gamma-wave Cooper pairs with zero total momenta, pm 2Q_1, pm 2Q_2, pm 4Q_1, pm 4Q_2, and so on is induced by the SDW, gaps can have fine structures similar to those of the so called zero-temperature pseudogaps.