Spin-rotationally symmetric domain flux phases in underdoped cuprates

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new inhomogeneous phase in underdoped cuprates featuring spin-rotational symmetry, diagonal flux domains, and quasiparticle dispersion, aligning with experimental pseudogap and stripe observations.

Contribution

It proposes a novel inhomogeneous flux phase with spin-rotational symmetry and diagonal domain walls, supported by a renormalized mean field theory within the t-J model.

Findings

The phase exhibits cone-like quasiparticle dispersion.

It shows incommensurate orbital current order.

Features align with pseudogap and stripe phenomena in cuprates.

Abstract

We propose a new form of inhomogeneous phases consisting of out-of-phase staggered flux domains separated by diagonal charged domain walls centered on bonds or on sites. Remarkably, such domain flux phases are spin-rotationally symmetric and exhibit cone-like quasiparticle dispersion as well as incommensurate order of orbital currents. Such features are consistent with the pseudogap behavior and the diagonal stripes observed experimentally in lightly doped cuprates. A renormalized mean field theory shows that such solutions are competitive candidates within the $t$--$J$ model.