Local Antiferromagnetic Correlations and $d_{x^2-y^2}$ Pairing

TL;DR

This paper explains why high-temperature cuprate superconductors with short-range antiferromagnetic correlations tend to exhibit $d_{x^2-y^2}$ pairing symmetry, based on a local physical picture.

Contribution

It provides a new intuitive local explanation for the emergence of $d_{x^2-y^2}$ pairing symmetry in cuprates with antiferromagnetic correlations.

Findings

Short-range antiferromagnetic correlations favor $d_{x^2-y^2}$ pairing symmetry.

The local picture clarifies the connection between magnetic correlations and pairing symmetry.

Supports the understanding of pairing mechanisms in high-$T_c$ cuprates.

Abstract

The high $T_c$ cuprate superconductors doped near half-filling have short range antiferromagnetic correlations. Here we describe an intuitive local picture of why, if pairing occurs in the presence of short-range antiferromagnetic correlations, the orbital state will have $d_{x^2-y^2}$ symmetry.