Charge Localization from Local Destruction of Antiferromagnetic Correlation in Zn-doped YBa2Cu3O7-d

TL;DR

This study investigates how Zn doping in YBa2Cu3O7-d induces charge localization in the normal state by disrupting local antiferromagnetic correlations, even in samples where localization isn't typically expected.

Contribution

It reveals that Zn substitution causes charge localization through destruction of antiferromagnetic correlations, challenging previous assumptions about localization in clean samples.

Findings

Zn doping induces charge localization at low temperatures.

Destruction of antiferromagnetic correlations is linked to localization.

Localization occurs even when mean free path suggests it shouldn't.

Abstract

The in-plane normal-state resistivity of Zn-doped YBa2Cu3O7-d single crystals is measured down to low temperatures by suppressing superconductivity with magnetic fields up to 18 T. Substitution of Cu with Zn in the CuO2 planes is found to induce carrier localization at low temperatures in "clean" samples with kF l > 5, where the mean free path l is larger than the electron wave length and thus localization is not normally expected. The destruction of the local antiferromagnetic correlation among Cu spins by Zn is discussed to be the possible origin of this unusual charge localization.