An Alternative Interpretation of the Magnetic Penetration Depth Data on Pr(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y) and La(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y)

TL;DR

This paper proposes that the observed transition in magnetic penetration depth behavior in electron-doped cuprates is due to quasiparticle scattering by antiferromagnetic fluctuations, supported by neutron scattering and ARPES data.

Contribution

It offers an alternative interpretation of penetration depth data, linking the transition to magnetic scattering effects rather than intrinsic gap changes.

Findings

Transition in penetration depth linked to magnetic scattering.

Supported by neutron scattering and ARPES experiments.

Suggests a scattering mechanism causes the observed behavior.

Abstract

We have revisited the magnetic penetration depth data on the electron-doped cuprates Pr(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y) and La(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y). It is proposed that the transition between the nodal-gap-like and nodeless-gap-like behaviors upon electron-doping [see, e.g., M. Kim et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 87001 (2003)] can be due to a scattering of the quasiparticles in the d-wave superconducting state by an incipient or weak antiferromagnetic spin-density-wave. This conjecture is supported by the inelastic neutron scattering and angle-resolved photoemission experiments on some closely related electron-doped cuprates.