Crossovers and Phase Coherence in Cuprate Superconductors

TL;DR

This paper explores the complex relationship between electronic inhomogeneity, phase coherence, and high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates, highlighting the role of phase fluctuations and a proposed mechanism for high pairing scales.

Contribution

It introduces a mechanism explaining high pairing scales in cuprates with short coherence lengths and strong Coulomb interactions, emphasizing the importance of phase fluctuations.

Findings

Phase fluctuations influence T_c and superfluid density.

Two crossovers occur before achieving long-range order.

A mechanism for high pairing scale in cuprates is proposed.

Abstract

High temperature superconductivity is a property of doped antiferromagnetic insulators. The electronic structure is inhomogeneous on short length and time scales, and, as the temperature decreases, it evolves via two crossovers, before long range superconducting order is achieved. Except for overdoped materials, pairing and phase coherence occur at different temperatures, and phase fluctuations determine both T$_c$ and the temperature dependence of the superfluid density for a wide range of doping. A mechanism for obtaining a high pairing scale in a short coherence length material with a strong poorly-screened Coulomb interaction is described.